While the New York Yankees are hoping to land a top-end pitcher prior to the July 31st trade deadline, they also have their eyes on a left-handed relief pitcher should they not land that first-tier starter.
Because of that - and because they don't want him to go to the Houston Astros - New York could potentially get into a bidding war for Brad Hand's services, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
A bidding war between superpowers likely to have to go through each other in the playoffs, plus another few teams, is great for the Padres. Hand has much in common with what the Yankees had in Andrew Miller at the 2016 deadline: a dominant lefty signed on a reasonable contract for 2 1/2 more seasons (3 1/2 in Hand’s case if you include his 2021 option).
Miller was better, but Hand is probably better than you think. All the following stats are since Hand became a full-time reliever in 2016: He has a 2.45 ERA, a .578 OPS against and has struck out 32.8 percent of the batters he has faced. He is durable, having appeared in the third-most games during that time. He suffocates lefties (.461 OPS). And he is no creation of the pitching haven of Petco Park. His road OPS is .512, eighth best among the 145 relievers with at least 50 appearances.
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Hand is one of four pitchers the Yankees have already been linked to, but he's the only relief pitcher of the bunch. New York is also known to be going after Cole Hamels, Chris Archer, and Michael Fulmer.
Hand has a 1.78 ERA with 21 saves and 52 strikeouts in 32 appearances this season.
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