Fansided

Trading for one of these relievers could solidify the Yankees bullpen

By Rucker Haringey

KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 15: Kelvin Herrera #40 of the Kansas City Royals pitches in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Kauffman Stadium on May 15, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 15: Kelvin Herrera #40 of the Kansas City Royals pitches in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Kauffman Stadium on May 15, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – MAY 23: Brad Hand #52 of the San Diego Padres pitches during a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – MAY 23: Brad Hand #52 of the San Diego Padres pitches during a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

2. Brad Hand

We mentioned earlier that Craig Stammen wouldn’t be the only Padres reliever on the Yankees’ radar. Hand would be a more substantial, and more expensive upgrade for the team’s bullpen.

The lefty is enjoying an excellent season on the West Coast. He’s serving as the Padres closer and has already notched 17 saves on the relatively young season. More importantly, his ERA of 2.15 illustrates how effective he’s been for San Diego.

Hand isn’t getting hitters out via smoke and mirrors. The 28-year-old is squarely in his prime and you can see it in his stuff. He’s already struck out 45 hitters in just 29.1 innings pitched. His ability to force batters to swing and miss would be a huge plus for the Yankee bullpen.

It’s unclear how much San Diego might require in a trade for their formidable southpaw. The team isn’t in contention and Hand will enter the last year of his contract in 2019. The Padres hold a $10 million option next season that might be a little too rich for their taste.

The Yankees’ decision on whether or not to move for Hand will all come down to price. If they’re asked to part with a premium prospect negotiations won’t go too far. If the Padres are willing to let Hand go for a fringe regular, it’s a deal the Yankees should make.

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