MLB trade rumors: AL contender joins Yankees in mix for Padres' Brad Hand

by Felix Pantaleón

San Diego Padres reliever Brad Hand could be moved before the July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) non-waiver trade deadline. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is shopping for pitching, and adding an arm to the bullpen would be insurance in case Aroldis Chapman’s knee injury gets worse.

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There’s a new team in the mix for San Diego Padres reliever Brad Hand:

Add the #Indians to list of teams with interest in #Padres closer Brad Hand. He’s signed for $6.5M and $7M the next two years, with a $10M club option for 2021. So he could be a nice hedge against Andrew Miller and Cody Allen leaving through free agency. Price very high, though.

— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 17, 2018

Earlier Tuesday, the New York Post reported renewed interest in Hand by the Yankees:

The Padres are getting a lot of hits on starter Tyson Ross and several relievers, notably Brad Hand and Kirby Yates. The Yankees are among those who have checked in.

Yankees report cards

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is working to improve the pitching staff before the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline.

It’s no secret the Yankees need to upgrade their starting rotation to compete with the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros. But the starters who are on the market don’t inspire a lot of confidence.

Adding to the bullpen would give the Yankees insurance in case closer Aroldis Chapman has more problems with his sore knee.

Hand is in demand both because of his performance and his contract.

He has 24 saves and a 3.05 ERA in 41 games this season for the Padres, who are in last place in the National League West with a record of 40-59.

According to Spotrac, Hand is under team control through 2020, and his contract is quite reasonable, even when you take into account his signing bonus: $7.083 million for 2019, $7.583 million for 2020, and a team option for $10 million in 2021 with a $1 million buyout.

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