Among the hottest names on the trade market right now? Brad Hand, of course.
For those unfamiliar – and outside of those that follow the National League West, that percentage may be quite large – Hand is a left-handed reliever for the San Diego Padres. He is rather good. The Padres moved him to the bullpen after the Marlins designated him for assignment and turned a free pickup into a commodity for whom one evaluator said San Diego wants “a Chapman-type return.”
Yup. Padres GM A.J. Preller is asking for the moon in a Hand deal, believing a thin relief market, Hand’s ability to work multiple days in a row, his left-handedness and his two years of remaining control make him a unique asset. Now, let’s get something straight: He isn’t Aroldis Chapman, and he will not fetch a prospect of Gleyber Torres’ caliber in return.