(Cleveland) - The Indians are getting ready for the postseason by shoring up the bullpen. The Tribe has acquired one of the best left-handed relief pitchers in baseball.
The Indians have acquired pitcher Brad Hand from the San Diego Padres. They've also signed right-handed pitcher Adam Cimber from San Diego. The Tribe will be sending catching prospect Francisco Mejia to the Padres.
Hand, 28, has split his career between San Diego and the Miami Marlins, recording 24 saves in 2018 with a 3.05 ERA in 41 relief appearances at the back-end of the Padres bullpen (44.1IP, 33H, 15ER, 15BB, 65SO, .202 avg). His 24 saves rank tied for third in the National League while his 65 strikeouts rank fourth among N.L. relievers.
Since the beginning of the 2016 season, he owns a 2.66 ERA in 195 games (213.0IP, 150H, 63ER) and his 280 strikeouts in relief over that three-year span rank second in MLB to Dellin Betances’ 298. The Chaska, MN native’s 28 outings of at least three strikeouts over that same span rank second among all Major League relievers to Andrew Miller’s 36. The two-time N.L. All-Star (2017-18) is under club control thru the conclusion of the 2021 season. He began his professional career in the Marlins organization (2nd round, 2008) and was claimed on waivers by SD in April, 2016.
Cimber, 27, has posted a mark of 3-5 with a 3.17 ERA in 42 relief appearances for San Diego in 2018 (48.1IP, 42H, 17ER, 10BB, 51SO, .237 avg). He owns a 2.16 ERA over 9 July outings (8.1IP, 4H, 2ER, 3BB, 6SO, .143 avg) and for the year has limited right-handed hitters to a .210 (25-for-119) average against. The Puyallup, WA native was San Diego’s ninth round pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of San Francisco. He is under club control thru the 2023 season.
(Photo by Dennis Poroy/Getty Images)
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