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Dodgers: Latest Brad Hand rumors put LAD in prime position

Adam Weinrib
Adam Weinrib

Dodgers Way

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 02: Pitcher Brad Hand #33 of the Cleveland Indians throws in the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 02, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

Rumors suggest the Dodgers could have the inside track on Brad Hand.

The MLB Hot Stove may not be fully ignited, but luckily for the Dodgers, the one area in which the embers are burning is the only one they’ve shopped in so far this offseason: the bullpen.

LA has already added Corey Knebel from Milwaukee, re-upped with Blake Treinen after a successful 2020, and signed Tommy Kahnle away from the Yankees for next season (or this season?).

They did, however, miss out on the highest-dollar prize to change hands thus far this offseason, with Liam Hendriks inking a three-year deal with a fourth-year option in Chicago, choosing the White Sox after early overtures from both the Dodgers and Astros.

Will this open up the relief spigot further? Who knows? Has anything worked yet?

The smoke does seem to be turning to fire surrounding Dodgers target Brad Hand, though, who it’s been reported is actively seeking multi-year deals as of Tuesday.

Interested clubs in the Hand market include the Blue Jays, Mets, and your Los Angeles Dodgers, and we’d wager LA has the best chance to land him, based on recent information.

Toronto is still stuck in limbo, trying to decide whether to pursue DJ LeMahieu as he sours somewhat on the Yankees, while also trying to “outbid” the Mets for George Springer — or, at least, pick Springer up on his way down from New York’s rejection of his services.

Those very same Mets? After the Francisco Lindor/Carlos Carrasco deal, they can’t spend money without shedding existing contracts or going over the luxury tax. And every time they’ve spoken to Hand, it’s been predicated on one-year deals.

If the Dodgers like Hand enough to offer a multi-year contract (even just two years!) at over $10 million annually (his declined option), that should be enough for a reunion.

Based on what we know, Los Angeles is the most likely team in the fray to swallow this not-that-bitter pill for an elite reliever.

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib is a Content Director on the FanSided network, and has been the co-editor at Yanks Go Yard and Dodgers Way for 4 years. He also co-hosts The Baseball Insiders Podcast twice weekly, alongside FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray, as well as the Yanks Go Yard Podcast. Previously, he was a Senior Editor at 12up.com, and has been covering MLB and NFL for eight years. Previously, he was a headline and features contributor at ClickHole and Onion Sports, as well as the Associate Producer of the ESPN 30 for 30 film "Believeland". An avowed fan of the New York sports teams -- specifically the Yankees -- as well as the North Carolina Tar Heels, you can find Adam complaining mid-game on Twitter, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn if the game goes really poorly.