The Colorado Rockies sign Brad Hand to a $1.5 MM base deal with a $500,000 buyout and bonuses and incentives. The Athletics’ Ken Rosenthal first reported the deal. This will be the eighth different team for the left-handed specialist in his 13 seasons in the major leagues.
Terms of the Deal
The terms of the deal break down with him making $11.5 million over two years if he begins this season with the Rockies and pitches at least 60 games in both seasons. He has a $1.5 million salary this year that becomes $2.5 million if he either begins the season on the Rockies or the MLB injured list. The contract also includes a $7 million team option for 2024 with a $500,000 buyout. If Hand pitches at least 25 games or is traded this season, the option becomes a mutual option instead of a team option. Added in are performance bonuses totaling $1 million each year for games pitched:
- $250,000 – 40 games pitched
- $250,000 – 50 games pitched
- $500,000 – 60 games pitched
Brad Hand Last Year
Last year Hand went 3-2 with in 55 games. He had a 2.80 ERA with five saves for the Philadelphia Phillies. He also pitched in the playoffs and the World Series. Left-handed batters hit just .217 against him, while right-handed batters had a .226 average. Overall, he has a career ERA of 3.62 and 131 saves.
Hand Provides Instant Help to Rockies
The Colorado Rockies sign reliever Brad Hand, providing instant help. He will immediately become a high-leverage pitcher. With Lucas Gilbreath headed for Tommy John surgery after re-aggravating his elbow in spring training, the bullpen needed an experienced arm.
Brent Suter was the only other left-handed bullpen pitcher on the Rockies’ 40-man roster. Fernando Abad, Logan Allen, Ty Blach, and Josh Rogers are all in camp as NRIs (non-roster invitees).
Former Starter
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In 2011 with the Miami Marlins, Hand was a starter and became a fixture in their rotation. In a surprise move in 2014, he was assigned to the bullpen and spent the next two seasons alternating between starting and relief roles. He was placed on waivers and was claimed by the San Diego Padres shortly before the 2016 season.
Hand had a breakout role with the Padres due to reinventing himself with his slider and became the team’s closer. He was an All-Star selection and led all MLB relievers with 82 appearances in 2016.
Not Elite, but Hopefully Handy
The Colorado Rockies sign reliever Brad Hand and although he is not an elite bullpen arm, he does add a solid, experienced presence to their bullpen. With the Rockies using several arms during the season, his veteran leadership can help out the younger pitchers.
The Rockies are expected to be one of the worst teams in MLB and as we all know in MLB you can never have enough left-handed bullpen arms. If Hand is pitching well, he could be a valuable trade piece to a playoff-contending team and the Rockies will get some minor-league players in return.
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