Fansided

MLB trade rumors: Each team’s best trade chip

By Joshua Sadlock

Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 2, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Brad Hand (52) pitches during the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 2, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Brad Hand (52) pitches during the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

San Diego Padres: Brad Hand

General Manager A.J. Preller has excelled at getting great prospect packages for his assets the past two years. He has stripped the Padres down to a bare-bones crew, and does not have much left to work with as the trade deadline approaches this year. That’s not necessarily a bad problem to have. The Padres are all the way into their rebuild and should not have many valuable assets left in the first place.

Reliever Brad Hand is having a second solid season in San Diego. Over the past two years, the left-hander has a 2.60 ERA in 121.1 innings and has struck out 153 while allowing only 81 hits. Hand has excelled against hitters from both sides of the plate. He has limited lefties to a .118 batting average and has also kept righties to an OPS below .500.

Hand’s best pitch is his slider, and he has allowed only three singles on the pitch this season with 38 strikeouts. Hand’s slider has great depth, and has been one of the more dominant reliever pitches in the league the past two years. Opponents slugged only .204 against it last season. Hand’s career has really taken off the past two seasons as he improves his slider. If the Padres do not envision converting him into their long-term closer, Hand will give them at least one trade chip to use this deadline.

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