Report: Phillies in Talks with Veteran Brand Hand
The Philadelphia Phillies have had some pretty bad bullpens in the recent past, but they are trying to do their best to fix that issue ahead of the 2022 season.
Before the lockout, the team landed former Dodger Corey Knebel and on Saturday they inked former Mets closer Jeurys Familia.
Now they could be knocking off the Mets bullpen door once again, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the team is in talks with left-handed reliever Brad Hand.
UPDATE: Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that the Phillies are signing free agent left-hander Brad Hand to a one-year, $6 million contract.
Hand had a 3.90 ERA and 1.27 WHIP last season over 64 2/3 innings with 61 strikeouts in New York last season.
The Phillies have lost a pair of veterans from their 2021 bullpen, Hector Neris signed with Houston before the lockout and Ian Kennedy agreed to a one-year contract to return to Arizona.
Both Neris and Kennedy closed games for the Phillies last season.
Adding Hand would give the Phillies a nice veteran in their bullpen, but the 31-year old hasn't been the same pitcher since his 2016-2020 run with San Diego and Cleveland.
The team is hoping they solved their closing problem with Knebel. He has plenty of closing experience with 60 career saves, posted a 2.45 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 25 1/3 regular-season innings for the Dodgers in 2021.