The Blue Jays’ long list of free agent targets has extended to the bullpen market, as MLB Network’s Jon Morosi tweets that Toronto was recently in touch with left-hander Brad Hand. The former All-Star entered free agency after the Indians declined their $10MM club option on Hand’s services.
Hand was placed on waivers by the Tribe prior to that declined option, as Cleveland was looking to save paying Hand a $1MM buyout by exposing him to any team willing to make a claim. All 29 teams (including Toronto) passed on Hand at the time, which is possibly indicative of how clubs are viewing spending on relief pitching this winter. In an offseason where more or less every team will be dealing with payroll limitations, a $10MM average annual value even for an established star reliever like Hand could be a reach.
The Jays are thought to have more spending capacity than most teams this winter, however, which is part of the reason they have been so quick to explore so many of the top names available. While they might not have been comfortable claiming Hand back in October, the Blue Jays would certainly seem to have a fit for Hand at the back of their bullpen. With Ken Giles being out for much of the 2020 season, six different pitchers recorded saves for the Jays last year — Anthony Bass led the way with seven saves, but Bass is now a free agent himself.
Rafael Dolis and Jordan Romano represent a pair of intriguing in-house closer candidates, so as Morosi notes, signing an established closer like Hand may be more of a need than a want for Toronto. That said, there is certainly value in being able to roll out multiple strong relievers, especially for a Jays team that has a few questions marks within its starting rotation.
You might have to Hand it to the Blue Jays.
Too much stuffing for you.
Buuurrrpppp!!!! Excuse me!!!
Not nearly enough, I can still see my feet.
If they wanted him why not just take over the 10 million option in the first place?
They sent out a form letter to every free agent for a 1 year $8million contract.
One accepted so far.
Should’ve claimed him, my bet is he goes to LA
The Mets need Hand. Solid reliever and very affordable
You can make the same argument for every team in the majors.
Except for the Indians.
Including the Indians. They could certainly use Hand. I know it seems unlikely now.
Mets are willing 2 take anything and anybody, its tuff when ur a bottom feeder, it all looks good up above
Blue Jays could use a helping Hand in the bullpen. Not catcher though they already have one in Reese.
Reese’s game is in pieces, and wouldn’t every team like someone to give them a Hand at a reasonable rate?
Keep Hand away from Reese, please.
Everyone is in on everyone else
Yes, I wish mlbtraderumors would stop with the ABC team is interested in the XYZ player….. like bigdaddyt just stated “Everyone is in on everyone else” and it is not news worthy.
….they are just trying to sell more advertising……
^ this is so amazing.
Bro…the word “rumors” is in the name of the site. So that’s pretty much the deal, man.
Ya know. Rumors & stuff.
If everyone is in on everyone…..that is like saying the sky is blue……is it a rumor????
…and does it make any difference…..
…. does it make it news worthy….or does anyone even care….
You’re here reading it aren’t you? And you cared enough to comment Js
So what are you thinking to yourself JUST before you click on the link to this article? You’re outraged by the senseless article and you want to make sure everyone else knows it?
Las Vegas Gambler softball team ….. yes, we are interested in signing George Springer to a one year contract and possibly Brad Hand also….
Who aren’t they interested in? Stop reporting this. Saying the Blue Jays are interested in a free agent is like reporting the wind blowed. They do this to make it seem like they’re doing something, when they aren’t. They’re version of checking on a player is asking a player “what did you have for lunch?” Such a joke!
It’s a rumor. If you go to a site called “MLB Trade Rumors”, don’t be surprised if they’re reporting rumors.
Yes but between the rumors regarding interest by either the Blue Jays or Padres, there isn’t any time left to ponder any other teams interests…….
I wish my Cards were interested in someone
Not their fault. Team leaks this to media, media announces it and trade rumors run with it. This is all coming from the team and trickling downward. Team is all talk and little action.
.. May not be the team that leaked this to the media. There are plenty of advantages for the player’s agent to leak this information.
It’s the team more than likely. Ownership owns the TV and Radio stations and practically controls nearly all the baseball media in Toronto. Morosi spends a lot of time covering Toronto along with Detroit and the New York teams and is always featured in Toronto. Smart money says this is coming from inside the Rogers organization.
Amen tot hat. Sick of hearing about who they are interested in already.
Blue jays are bad for this kind of thing because they own their own media. So of course in the off-season they want as many stories to sell as possible. More articles linking them to people the more money Rogers makes
It’s the national writers who are the ones reporting this
Perhaps try mlbcompleteddeals.com to find what you’re looking for.
Or the mlb free agent tracker is a really nice reporting system for completed deals as well.
half the site doesnt want rumors and half the site only wants rumors it seems
Yes, very true… lol. Kind of funny when you consider it from that perspective.
Enough with the interest, Blue Jays. Just sign someone already.
Enough with the interest, Blue Jays. Just sign someone already. These rumors are annoying.
Jays phone bill really high theses days…
They don’t mind so much, all the phone expenses go back to the parent company.
They have a nice flat rate for unlimited calls in North America. If they were talking to a lot of international free agents, that’s when you should worry if they will have to raise ticket prices to cover costs.
Here we go again. Blue Jays are interested in everyone but get the broken pieces
Yes. Ryu was a broken pieces
Can’t tell if sarcasm.
Ryu was a gamble.
He pitched a lot better at home going into his free agency.
And saw a 75 inning increase over 2018 during his stellar 2019 season.
2015: 0 IP; 2016: 32 IP; 2017: 126 IP; 2018: 110 IP; 2019: 187 IP;
Counting playoff and minors rehab innings.
He got 4 years/$80million based on a lot of hope.
So far got 1 stellar season – postseason: no comment 🙁
2020 was lucky to not have to see how he would rebound after the inning spike.
But now there will be another spike in 2021 if the season is 162 games and he stays healthy throughout.
68 IP in 2020.
Guessing we see a lot of 5 & 6 days between starts, with a skipped start every six weeks to try to keep him fresh for September and hopefully beyond.
Broken pieces acceptable here. Depth depth depth!
If you can’t recognize that as sarcasm, it doesn’t speak well.
hahaha touchee
Ryu with a mildly broken history, can’t help but question it!
Well to be fair, it’s not like any other team has done very much so far with free agency. Isn’t Ray’s deal still the biggest FA deal handed out so far? I’m probably wrong but if the Jays are checking in on every major FA, hopefully they can sign one or two big names.
Smyly got $11m and Morton got $15m, both from the Braves.
I believe Charlie Morton’s new deal is actually the biggest contract so far. But you’re right in pointing out that only a few guys have signed so far. Personally, I don’t think we will get any big news until the non-tender deadline on December 2. Teams are waiting to see what the full free agent market will look like before making any big moves.
IF the Jays are truly in on FAs like Springer or Bauer, or Realmuto or any others I’ve seen posited in various rumor sites, it explains why they are moving slowly. They are not going to make financial commitments to less expensive, less impactful players before they’re certain whether they’ve got a shot at the big fish.
Personally, I start to feel like the big fish on the market are waiting for the Mets to hire a GM and drive up their bidding?
Or is their Pres already driving up bidding on these guys?
Filthy rich: Yeah, this makes a lot of sense, particularly with the manner in which many postulate Cohen will spend to bring a ring to Flushing.
Seattle? They need bullpen arms and have the money. Surprised they didn’t claim him to begin with.
Also, if I recall the story from Reece’s mishap, shouldn’t we keep as many Hands as possible away from that guy – he tends to get in trouble when he has some free Hands around.
Does anyone think Hand will get a multi-year deal with 10 million avg salary?? I don’t think so, That’s why nobody claimed him. Thoughts???
Agree with you. Velo issues.
Just publish one story, list all free agents, and put “Blue Jays Interested” next to all of them.
Hand would be a great asset. He is borderline elite. Who cares about $10 Mill. They should have claimed him.
So if even established relievers aren’t worth 10M, why does most every site project at least 3 years, 30M for Hendricks? Hand was 16-for-16 in save chances, so why is Liam worth more?
I think Hendricks is a power arm with swing and miss stuff in the zone. I think if a hitter facing Hand decided to keep the bat on his shoulder, Hand would walk the batter 75% of the time. Today’s spin rate/velo metics would place Hand well below Hendricks
Playoffs 2020: used in 3 of 7 games 5.2 IP and 7 baserunners;
2020: used in 24 of 60 games 25.1 IP and 18 baserunners;
2019: used in 75 of 162 games 85 IP and 89 baserunners.
Hendriks
Playoffs 2020: used in 1 of 2 games 0.2 IP and 4 baserunners;
2020: used in 23 of 60 games 22 IP and 19 baserunners;
2019: used in 60 of 162 games 57.1 IP and 80 baserunners.
Hand
Hendriks got an inning in 2019 playoffs, both were bad in 2018 playoffs.
The 2019 season and 2020 playoffs would probably be a large factor in Hendriks being the more appealing option right now.
for all we know it was teams just not wanting to jump at the $10 million in the moment but being more willing to offer that money at a later date, or simply banking on Hand making it through because he was designated instead of traded to begin with.
Look, I’m not a conspiracy guy, but maybe this was collusion. Perhaps the owners decided to send a message to the MLPA that spending will be down in 2021. If it is, we will never know.
Morton and Smyly sure agree about spending being down
Morton and Smyly are huge bargains compared to the hot garbage that signed qualifying offers.
Only starting pitchers have signed. The spending could be down for every other position.
For some reason, teams can’t get rid of Hand fast enough. Take a look at his trade to the Indians.
I wish I could reply with a Kevin Malone “are you kidding me?” gif… Drew Smyly for $11m is a bargain? No way. Not even if covid was out of the equation.
Blue Jays fans every other year: Why aren’t the Jays active in the free agent market?? Cheap owners!
Blue Jays fans this year: Why are the Jays looking into every top free agent?
I’d take him over Liam Hendricks, he’ll probably be cheaper, too.
Rockies could use a helping Hand, oh wait, knever mind.
And the Indians slowly sink back into the small market muck.
Jays were willing to pay Ray $8-mil but not Brad Hand at $10-mil. Ok then.
Jays acquiring Hand works in two ways, one to replace Giles and the other to move one of there key bullpen pieces from 2020 in some trade package. A few arms performed above expectation and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to deal one of them.
Like Yamaguchi?
Lol kidding I swear.
Dolis? Cole? Romano? other?
In a package, I could see it. Lot of FA available to replace these arms.
Dolis or Romano on their own could fetch something? Not enough. But something?
Good joke.
Probably want to keep Romano only because he’s a hometown boy. Although the Jays brass never wanted him and reluctantly gave him an opportunity thanks to injuries. Package a Dolis or Cole or even Hatch depending on who you are dealing with and for whom.
if the bluejays signed everyone they were linked to, they would need a 400 man roster
JUST SIGN SOMEBODY ALREADY, PLEASE
What is wrong with this guy? Hand was good for the Padres. He was traded, with someone else, for 1 prospect. Now, he has a relatively affordable option that is not only declined by his team, but essentially by every team in the league. What do we not know?
Top 20 prospect that happens to be a catcher is pretty rare.
Even then, rarely seem to pan out.
Mejia was highly regarded.
Hasn’t worked out for Padres so far.
Right now is odd.
Seems that 20-25 teams will not have the luxury of spending large money on their bullpen.
SP getting paid.
C, SS, 2B, CF likely get paid.
Corners and relievers? Not so much.
Some teams are probably going to get some deals by simply spending $8-10m on some pretty solid relief options!
Some teams are probably going to get burned on these same deals.
Rather get burned by internal pre-arb options?
Hoping the Jays go big and try to match the Yankees/Rays bullpens.
He’s a reliever. Only so much impact a player can make pitching in less than half your games one inning at a time.
Give him a 2-year contract for $16mil and see what he does. Best outcome he pitches like he always has, giving us a reliable lefty-arm at the back end of the bullpen. Worst outcome he looks like Aaron Loup and we throw him as an extra piece in a trade.
Im just wanting some action to happen somewhere. My guess is once the winter meetings happen we will see some movement, but honestly im shocked a trade or a signing of a big name hasnt fallen through.