Sports: Brad Hand gets $10.5M from Nationals, $6.5M of it deferred

WASHINGTON (AP) – Left-hander Brad Hand finalized a one-year, $ 10.5 million contract with the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, giving the team more strength and flexibility at the back of their box .

The deal includes a salary of $ 6.5 million that will be carried forward without interest. The carry-over money will come in payments due at $ 1.5 million on January 15, $ 3.5 million on January 15, 2023, and $ 1.5 million on January 15, 2024.

The 30-year-old Hand led the majors with 16 saves in the pandemic-truncated 2020 season for the Cleveland Indians, compiling a 2.05 ERA, an opponent batting average of .169, 29 strikeouts. stick and four steps in 22 innings in 23 appearances.

He didn’t allow a home run last season.

Cleveland turned down Hand’s $ 10 million option after last season, triggering a $ 1 million buyout and making him an eligible free agent to sign with any major league club.

The speed of the fastball of the hand has declined by over 2 mph over the past two seasons and averaged 91.4 mph last year.

Hand is a three-time All-Star, earning the honor in 2017, 2018 and 2019 after becoming a full-time reliever. He is 26-43 years old with 105 saves and a career ERA of 3.65 in 396 games through 10 seasons in the big leagues, including 43 starts, for Cleveland, San Diego and Miami.

He joined a deep enclosure in Washington that already included Daniel Hudson, Will Harris, and Tanner Rainey.

Since their tie for last place in the Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador region in 2020, the Nationals and general manager Mike Rizzo have set out to address several pressing needs, adding Hand, the left starter. Jon Lester (pending a physique), outfielder Kyle Schwarber and first baseman Josh Bell.

They also brought back the organization’s longest-serving player, Ryan Zimmerman, after he opted out of the 2020 season over concerns over the effect of the coronavirus on his family’s health.

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AP Baseball writer Ronald Blum in New York and AP Sports writer Stephen Whyno in Washington contributed to this report.

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