Brad Hand Would Love to Play for the Twins

[Cooper Carlson]

Star relief pitcher Brad Hand was recently let go by the Cleveland Indians. In a recent interview with Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News, Hand revealed he would love to play for Minnesota."You know, I've thought about it before but you know, at this point I don't know, know where I'm going to end up but you know would love to play for the Twins for sure."

 

That is what Brad Hand said when asked about the possibility of coming to Minnesota via free agency. Hand said this in an interview with Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News.

 

 

Brad Hand grew up in Minnesota and talked about how much he liked it and how his family still lives here. Hand likes the fit and so should Twins fans.

 

Since 2016, Hand has had an ERA above 3.00 just one time and has a total of 105 saves during that time. He has been an elite reliever for the Padres and Indians, and one the Twins have seen a ton of in Cleveland.

 

We all know the Twins love their sliders, and Hand has a great one. He threw it 50% of the time last season and had a 38.6 whiff% on it. For a team in need of a couple relievers and with money to spend, Brad Hand would be an excellent fit.

Should the Twins pick up the phone and get Brad Hand to Minnesota? Comment what you think below!

 

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[DasBat]

He would look great in our bullpen. I just think he’ll want multiple years and I don’t think our front office wants to give out those contracts to bullpen free agents

[TopGunn#22]

I think they should.  He's a proven closer.  That would leave the 7th-8th innings for Rogers and Duffey.

And watch Alcala continue to impress.  

When Hand needs a night off, let Rogers and Duffey close depending on the matchup.

I wouldn't mind seeing Alcala given some opportunities as well.

Signing Hand gives the Twins a very talented and deep BP.

[DasBat]

I’ve definitely been hoping for him or Bradley

[High heat]

I think Hand should be a priority, allows both Duffey and Rogers to be used in matchup situations, which both succeed at and also keeps them from pilling up saves which gets relievers paid in arbitration.

 

I know we weren't interested at him for 1 yr and 9 mil but maybe a 2 yr for 14? or the same deal Rogers got 1 for 6 with a mutual option for a second year at loser to the 9 he miss out on. 

 

Be a steady closer, wants to come here and is one of us!

[Rosterman]

It was strange that no one grabbed him for $10 million for next year. In some ways, that might've been a bargain.

 

What would he want...3 years and $25 million  or $35 million?

 

Just got to wait and see. But he would give the Twins a REAL closer when they need one and two great set-up guys in Duffey and Rogers.

 

Alcala, Stashak and Thielbar. Mix in Thorpe who needs to be kept on the roster and COULD throw multiple innings. Look pretty decent if no injuries.

 

[tony&rodney]

Sure. Hand and Duffey to set up for Rogers and Hendriks is a tough bullpen. Let's do it.

[GNess]

Hand is the type of addition that can help the Twins level up.

[Doctor Gast]

I'm not a one to advocate signing a big name reliever, especially multiple years. But I've made an exception to Brad Hand. I echo the sentiment to bring home a MN son & to embrace him w/ him a multi-year contract if that what it takes (agreeable contract w/ incentives & options). I believe he'll pitch his heart out for MN family, friends & fans

[arby58]

 

Sure. Hand and Duffey to set up for Rogers and Hendriks is a tough bullpen. Let's do it.

They don't have the money to sign both Hand and Hendriks.

[wabene]

Sure. Hand and Duffey to set up for Rogers and Hendriks is a tough bullpen. Let's do it.

Whoa big fella! I thought this was a serious discussion.

[wabene]

Sign Mr Hand for up to 2 years, yes. Hell I'd even order him a pizza. The closer part though, c'mon now I thought Baldelli got that closer glitch out of his system last year and we were going with matchups.

[mikelink45]

If they can trust Rogers to comeback they should trust Hand to continue his excellent work. 

[puckstopper1]

Get er done, now!

[spanman2]

 

They don't have the money to sign both Hand and Hendriks.

I am not calling the Pohlad's 'cheap' when it comes to payroll...but lets be honest.  They have the money.  Everyone once in a you need to go for it.  It will be up to the front office to determine if they are in a position from a talent standpoint to go for it or not?  Then ask Jim for the $$$.  I would like to see a playoff victory/series victory...it was 11 years between '91 World Series and their next playoff series victory '02...now 16 years between playoff game victories...WIN TWINS!!!

[Dan In Real Life]

As long as he doesn't cost so much that it limits what they can do elsewhere, then sure. Maybe $15M/2 years. No more than that. I also don't assume he's the closer. He's in the mix with Rogers and Duffey, but I'd rather see them all used based on matchups. None of them are superstar relievers that can be used against anyone. Hand is nothing special against RHB, while he dominates lefties.

[saviking]

Probably comes down to whether they sign a top notch starting pitcher or not .. If not, put the money into his Hand ..

[Dr. Evil]

I hope they sign him.

[tony&rodney]

Every article that postulates additions to the Twins roster for next season will inevitably run into budget restraints of one sort or another. Realism for us is not necessarily realism for the Twins.

Before anyone ever gets too invested in a position consider the likely options:

1) Covid 19 requires an adjustment of the budget to the 90- $100 million range;

2) a middle ground leaves salary allotments to near $115 million; and

3) a return or replay of the expected 2020 expenditures to a $140-150 million range.

Thus, when a fan looks to build a team for next year, just write out three teams.

There is certainly room to add both Liam Hendriks and Brad Hand in scenario three. Likewise, neither can be added if the monies handed out are less than $100 million.

However the winter progresses, there are some excellent opportunities to consider.

The Twins have a strong base and some touted young players ready for their chance to shine and the time seems ripe to add pieces this offseason. 

[jmlease1]

I'm more interested in getting in a power righty with a proven track record than spending all our bullpen money on another lefty. Hand is good, and I'd be happy to have him, but I'm looking for the replacement for May right now. Alcala can fill some of those innings, but we need a righty more than another lefty.

[4twinsJA]

Looks like Twins may have 5 RH starting pitchers, would be good to have plenty of LH in bullpen. Bring on Hand, with Rogers, Theilbar, and possibly Smeltzer, Thorpe, or Waddell.

[Thegrin]

Brad Hand is left handed and breathing but his price tag is outrageous.

[specialiststeve]

All depends on price... if reasonable... would be great!!

[Melissa]

But wouldn't a shortened season also reduce the salaries? Or are you assuming that a new player agreement requires full-season salaries even for a reduced number of games?

 

 

Every article that postulates additions to the Twins roster for next season will inevitably run into budget restraints of one sort or another. Realism for us is not necessarily realism for the Twins.

Before anyone ever gets too invested in a position consider the likely options:

1) Covid 19 requires an adjustment of the budget to the 90- $100 million range;

2) a middle ground leaves salary allotments to near $115 million; and

3) a return or replay of the expected 2020 expenditures to a $140-150 million range.

Thus, when a fan looks to build a team for next year, just write out three teams.

There is certainly room to add both Liam Hendriks and Brad Hand in scenario three. Likewise, neither can be added if the monies handed out are less than $100 million.

However the winter progresses, there are some excellent opportunities to consider.

The Twins have a strong base and some touted young players ready for their chance to shine and the time seems ripe to add pieces this offseason. 

 

[Major League Ready]

 

Every article that postulates additions to the Twins roster for next season will inevitably run into budget restraints of one sort or another. Realism for us is not necessarily realism for the Twins.

Before anyone ever gets too invested in a position consider the likely options:

1) Covid 19 requires an adjustment of the budget to the 90- $100 million range;

2) a middle ground leaves salary allotments to near $115 million; and

3) a return or replay of the expected 2020 expenditures to a $140-150 million range.

Thus, when a fan looks to build a team for next year, just write out three teams.

There is certainly room to add both Liam Hendriks and Brad Hand in scenario three. Likewise, neither can be added if the monies handed out are less than $100 million.

However the winter progresses, there are some excellent opportunities to consider.

The Twins have a strong base and some touted young players ready for their chance to shine and the time seems ripe to add pieces this offseason. 

 

I would guess part of the slow off-season is that teams are trying to get a handle on how many games will be missed and how many will be played without fans. For the Twins, each game without fans represents a roughly $750K loss in revenue. I think they still don't have enough information to know how to proceed. If you are in charge of the P&L, being off by 30 days is a big deal unless ownership specifically instructs you to spend at a level that will produce a considerable loss if fans are not present consistent with your forecast. That's not too likely to happen with the possible exception of Steve Cohen.

[tony&rodney]

 

I would guess part of the slow off-season is that teams are trying to get a handle on how many games will be missed and how many will be played without fans. For the Twins, each game without fans represents a roughly $750K loss in revenue. I think they still don't have enough information to know how to proceed. If you are in charge of the P&L, being off by 30 days is a big deal unless ownership specifically instructs you to spend at a level that will produce a considerable loss if fans are not present consistent with your forecast. That's not too likely to happen with the possible exception of Steve Cohen.

 

While I cannot disagree with this sentiment, it is important to note that professional sports is a closed club and has its own beat. We do not know how the Twins will proceed at this point and I haven't read any speculation from anyone that is a clear direction for the Twins regarding their roster construction for next year. One person's rational thinking of business models is no more indicative of the 2021 Twins budget than any other idea. The Pohlad's do a good job of holding their cards, as is their right.

[Teflon]

Brad Hand is five times better than Rollie Fingers.

[IndianaTwin]

 

Brad Hand is five times better than Rollie Fingers.

 

Though technically, when one consider that "Fingers" is plural, Hand is, at best 2.5 times better. But that's still pretty good.

 

[IndianaTwin]

 

....

 

Completely non-baseball-related, but with two young-adult sons in the mix, we name our cars to keep track of them. "Cory" and "Carl" were purchased from friends with those names, for example, and our current Nissan Murano has been dubbed "Rav 5," because it's a little bigger than the Rav 4 we were looking for.

 

So, you may be interested in knowing that you share a name with one of the vehicles in the IT motor pool. After adding a manual transmission Accord to the fleet, we named that one "Stick." Which made it make logical to dub the automatic transmission Accord "Teflon."

 

After all, it's non-stick.

[Major League Ready]

 

But wouldn't a shortened season also reduce the salaries? Or are you assuming that a new player agreement requires full-season salaries even for a reduced number of games?

 

Of course it does. However, the majority of operating costs are not variable because they are people, equipment, and services. While we don't know the exact operating costs, Forbes revenue and EBITA projections over the last few years suggest operating costs to be a little over $100M or roughly $650K per game. My WAG on fixed expense is about $500K per game.

 

The net of it that they lose roughly $750K / game playing without fans and $500K / game not playing at all.