Blue Jays Continue Adding To Bullpen, Acquire Brad Hand From Nationals

Image credit: Brad Hand (Photo By Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

The Blue Jays have aggressively pursued bullpen help over the past month, adding RHP Adam Cimber in a trade with the Marlins on June 29 and Trevor Richards in a trade with the Brewers on July 6.

The Blue Jays made another big bullpen splash on Thursday, acquiring closer Brad Hand from the Nationals in exchange for catching prospect Riley Adams.

Seven different players have recorded a save for the Blue Jays this season, and none have more than eight. In Hand, they get an established closer with experience pitching in the thick of a pennant race

NATIONALS ACQUIRE

Riley Adams, C
Age: 25

A third-round pick out of San Diego in 2017, Adams has long been lauded for his power and arm strength and made his major league debut with the Blue Jays this season. A big, physical masher at 6-foot-4, 246 pounds, Adams has plus-plus raw power and just enough feel to hit to get to it in games. He is prone to swinging and missing, but he stays in the strike zone enough to draw enough walks to post solid on-base percentages. He also has a knack for getting hit by pitches. Adams has plenty of arm strength but also issues with his release that cause his arm to play down. He still threw out 36% of attempted basestealers in his minor league career.

BLUE JAYS ACQUIRE

Brad Hand, LHP
Age: 31

The three-time all-star has been in a bit of a rut recently. He blew saves in back-to-back games July 25-26 and has a 7.88 ERA over eight appearances this month. While July has been ugly, Hand posted a 2.60 ERA and converted 18 of 20 save opportunities through the season’s first three months. His fastball remains around 93 mph and his slider, while not getting as many swings and misses as in years past, remains an effective pitch that batters are hitting just .172 against this season. He will be a free agent at the end of the year.