Cleveland Gets Hand as Arm to Boost Bullpen

[Tom Froemming]

Had to have a little fun with the headline on this one

 

Cleveland is acquiring Brad Hand from San Diego, per The Athletic. Here's a link to the MLB Trade Rumors post, which will be updated as details emerge. Hand, a product of Chaska High School, has made it to the All-Star Game back-to-back seasons. In three years with the Padres, the lefty has a 2.66 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 3.94 K:BB ratio.

 

This should be a huge boost to a Cleveland bullpen that has the second-worst ERA in baseball at 5.28.

 

UPDATE: Cleveland is also getting Adam Cimber a right-handed reliever who has a 3.17 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 5.10 K:BB ratio in this, his rookie season. The sliver lining for Twins fans is Francisco Mejia is heading to San Diego.

 

Rated as the No. 15 prospect in all of baseball by MLB Pipeline, Mejia was Cleveland's best trade chip. That means 1) This is more than likely the biggest addition Cleveland will be able to make (though they do have some other attractive pieces on the farm), and 2) This will also more than likely be looked back upon as just an absolutely terrible trade by Cleveland. Hard to imagine cashing in a top catching prospect for two bullpen guys and feeling good about it five years later.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I liked this only because I found your wording funny. Not because I like that Cleveland traded for Hand.

[nicksaviking]

Mejia always sounded like a guy they'd never part with; pretty surprising. I like how San Diego gave up their big trade chip in Hand but also tossed in another fringy but MLB ready player to get the prospect they wanted. If the Twins start moving parts I'm all for bundling some other parts to increase the haul.

[gman]

Looks like Hand has a three year contract following this year including an option year. That's too bad, but I'm happy to see that Cleveland traded Francisco Mejia.They've been too successful at developing players recently for future Twins hopes.

[Mike Sixel]

Wow, that's quite the get for SD.......wow.

 

And, of course CLE was going to add to its RP corps. 

[ChrisKnutson]

If there was any hope beforehand, it better be gone now. Admit it. The season’s done.

[jokin]

 

Wow, that's quite the get for SD.......wow.

 

And, of course CLE was going to add to its RP corps. 

 

That theory about the outsized value of catching prospects is about to be severely tested.

 

Makes me think CLE "thinks" they know something no one else knows about Mejia?

 

Either that or SD must have the same talent scout that the Nats used to pluck Ramos from the Twins for MadCapps?

[Mike Sixel]

 

That theory about the outsized value of catching prospects is about to be severely tested.

 

Makes me think CLE "thinks" they know something no one else knows about Mejia?

 

Either that or SD must have the same talent scout that the Nats used to pluck Ramos from the Twins for MadCapps?

 

Theory with NO actual information other than observation:

 

The Twins don't play Garver much....CLE didn't play Mejia much and traded him.......does our FO feel the same about the relative value of defense and offense for catchers as CLE? 

 

 

[jokin]

 

Theory with NO actual information other than observation:

 

The Twins don't play Garver much....CLE didn't play Mejia much and traded him.......does our FO feel the same about the relative value of defense and offense for catchers as CLE? 

 

The Twins have a long history of love affairs with both ML and MiLB catchers that they think, apparently, can hit but can't catch. Harper, Suzuki, Pinto, Murphy, Garver and most recently, spending a 2nd Rd pick on Ryan Jeffers (when no scouting service had Jeffers in the top 200- Jeffers has only played C in 9 games so far in Rookie Ball).

[Mike Sixel]

 

The Twins have a long history of love affairs with both ML and MiLB catchers that they think, apparently, can hit but can't catch. Harper, Suzuki, Pinto, Garver and most recently, spending a 2nd Rd pick on Ryan Jeffers (when no scouting service had Jeffers in the top 200- Jeffers has only played C in 9 games so far in Rookie Ball).

 

Only Jeffers was acquired by this FO......and Garver isn't playing 60% of the time, still. So, ya, I considered what you said, and still posted what I did.

 

It's not like Castro is a GREAT hitter, he was/is a great framer.....

[USAFChief]

Looks like it cost Cleveland an arm and a leg.

[Tom Froemming]

So the gist of the situation seems to be that Francona is happy with the catching combo of Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez and they're not as sold on Mejia's defense back there. So they've been working him in the outfield quite a bit in the minors, which Mejia may not have been 100 percent on board with, but I'm not sure. Either way, they weren't anxious to mix him in behind the dish.

 

I really don't feel like Adam Cimber adds much value to this deal, despite his solid numbers so far. He's going to be 28 in less than a month, is a junkballer (averages 87 mph on his fastball), is getting killed by lefties (.960 OPS in 69 PAs) and never was all that great in the minors (which explains why he didn't debut until he was 27).

[Loosey]

With this deal helping bolster Cleveland's bullpen and the Twins being out 7.5 games.  Cleveland has 10 games before the deadline and the Twins have 11.  To not be sellers at the deadline what is the magic # of games back the Twins need to be?

 

I say the Twins need to make up 3.5 games in the next 11.  It will be tough, especially with 4 against Boston in Boston, but I think 4 games back at the deadline would be my magic #.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I really don't feel like Adam Cimber adds much value to this deal, despite his solid numbers so far. He's going to be 28 in less than a month, is a junkballer (averages 87 mph on his fastball), is getting killed by lefties (.960 OPS in 69 PAs) and never was all that great in the minors (which explains why he didn't debut until he was 27).

Cimber is a sidearmer, though. Those guys don't always need velocity to succeed.

 

Obviously he's the lesser piece in this deal, but could be a helpful one to Cleveland.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I've always gotten a bit of a Jesus Montero vibe when considering prospect Mejia....

[jokin]

 

Only Jeffers was acquired by this FO......and Garver isn't playing 60% of the time, still. So, ya, I considered what you said, and still posted what I did.

 

It's not like Castro is a GREAT hitter, he was/is a great framer.....

 

But the Institutional Memory still lingers in this franchise.

 

Garver NOT playing 2/3rds of the time is downright strange to me in a lost season.

 

I still will never forget management/scribes justifying the trade of Ramos for Capps as: "Ramos will never play much here anyway..."

 

I campaigned for acquiring Jason Castro with the old regime. Credit new management for signing the best catcher available instead of trading away the future.

 

Too bad they didn't have two RPs available that CLE coveted?

 

Jansen (TOR), Ruiz/Smith (LAD) available for their current/future needs.

A's have near-major league ready catching prospect (Murphy- a different one!) and have current needs the Twins can fill.

[jokin]

 

 

Cimber is a sidearmer, though. Those guys don't always need velocity to succeed.

Obviously he's the lesser piece in this deal, but could be a helpful one to Cleveland.

 

He's definitely better than some of the current Indians BP dreck. Out of 30 teams, only the Royals have a worse bullpen than CLE.

[Vanimal46]

I've always gotten a bit of a Jesus Montero vibe when considering prospect Mejia....

That's a good 'Remember this guy?'... He's 28 and playing in a league down in Mexico now.

 

I forgot he was once a top 5 prospect in baseball from 2010-2012.

[Tom Froemming]

 

Looks like it cost Cleveland an arm and a leg.

But the question now becomes do the Twins just HAND Cleveland the division at this point?

[Mike Sixel]

 

I've always gotten a bit of a Jesus Montero vibe when considering prospect Mejia....

 

He's a much, much, better hitter.....IMO.

[jkcarew]

SD gave up a 3 1/2 years of a 28-year-old all-star reliever...a left handed one at that.  Plus a sweetener in Cimber.  I don't think that's low for Mejia...or at least I don't think it's surprisingly low.

[Thrylos]

 

 

. Hard to imagine cashing in a top catching prospect for two bullpen guys and feeling good about it five years later.

 

This reminds me of something in the past but could not quite figure out what  

[Otto von Ballpark]

This reminds me of something in the past but could not quite figure out what

A key difference is, the Twins 2010 pen wasn't bad without Capps. And Hand is better and controlled a lot longer (potentially through 2021).

[mngopherguy]

On the surface it seems that the Padres are huge winners here and that Cleveland was overly desperate to get relief help.  However after reading how the Indians didn't like Mejia behind the plate, I'm not so sure.  

[Shaitan]

 

That's a good 'Remember this guy?'... He's 28 and playing in a league down in Mexico now.

I forgot he was once a top 5 prospect in baseball from 2010-2012.

 

And, if my memory is correct, once traded straight-up for now-Twin Michael Pineda.

[jtkoupal]

The Indians bolstered the back of their bullpen. With Cody Allen, they now have 2 closers. If Miller comes back and gives them anything, they have two set-up men.

 

I think Cleveland just clinched the AL Central, guys.

[jtkoupal]

This move makes all the sense in the world for the Indians.

 

A.) Hand is under control for 3 more years (including an option year) after this year. Cimber still has 2 years before arbitration. 

 

B.) Allen and Miller are upcoming free agents. Budget could be an issue for the Indians who will have to start paying Lindor real money soon while other players are scheduled for salary increases as well, so keeping them could be unlikely.

 

C.) They are happy with Yan Gomes as their catcher. His ASG appearance may have been more of a "by default" appearance, but catchers around the league are pretty bad this year. Gomes is also under contract (with club options) through 2021.

 

I don't see how the Indians window is closing that soon. Seems to me they will still be the team to beat in 2019. Possibly in 2020 as well.

 

[nicksaviking]

 

 

I don't see how the Indians window is closing that soon. Seems to me they will still be the team to beat in 2019. Possibly in 2020 as well.

 

Yeah, I've heard that too but I never thought it made much sense. Their rotation is locked up and their best hitters are young and controllable. They lose their bullpen, which should be the easiest part of the team to replace. Unless you're KC and your whole team revolves around your bullpen, you should be OK.

[Brandon]

I think this is a good trade for the Twibs long term. Doesnt Cleveland have a few starting pitchers getting close to FA? Bauer, Carasco, and Kluber should be close and when they leave us when Cle goes downhill.

[Han Joelo]

Bold, admirable move.  Could be Miller-esque.  Could be like the Nats trading good prospects for Madson/Doolittle.  But I still like it from Cleveland's standpoint.  Not wasting a year when the Lindor/Ramirez combination are on pace to have a combined season unlike anything seen since Ruth/Gehrig.

 

I'd like to think the Twins' surge pushed them a little to make this move.  All in all, probably benefits the Twins in the long run.  The current 75 degree hill to climb is now about 80 degrees.