Nationals trade Brad Hand to Blue Jays for prospect Riley Adams

The Washington Nationals traded Brad Hand to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Washington Nationals have moved a starting pitcher on the morning of the day before the trade deadline. No, not that one (at least not yet).  According to Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post, reliever Brad Hand is on his way to the Toronto Blue Jays.

According to multiple reports, Toronto is sending catcher Riley Adams to the Nationals. He was widely ranked as a top-20 prospect in the Blue Jays system entering the 2021 season.

Hand had a 3.59 ERA over 41 appearances (42.2 innings for the Nationals this season, with 21 saves, an 8.9 K/9 and a 3.8 BB/9. He has had a rough July, going 3-for-6 in save opportunities with a 7.88 ERA, but he converted a clean save in his latest appearance Tuesday night. On a one-year deal, he was an easy trade chip as Washington presumably starts their deadline sell-off.

Blue Jays continue to bolster their bullpen with Brad Hand

In 2020 with the Cleveland Indians, Hand had a major league-leading 16 saves with a 2.05 ERA and high-end ratios (11.9 K/9, 1.6 BB/9). The Blue Jays have dealt with multiple injuries in their bullpen, which enters Thursday’s action 13th in all of baseball in ERA and 17th in FIP according to FanGraphs. The move to acquire Hand follows deals to acquire Adam Cimber from the Miami Marlins and Trevor Richards from the Milwaukee Brewers this month.

The Blue Jays and Nationals are clear trade deadline buyers and sellers respectively. The question for both teams is what’s to come over the next 24-plus hours, but Toronto clearly has placed priority on adding to their bullpen and the Nationals had an arm that fit the need.