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Red Sox Free Agency: 3 players Boston should sign when the lockout ends

By Brendan Mizgala

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 17: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies plays shortstop against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 17: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies plays shortstop against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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Red Sox Brad Hand
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 17: Brad Hand #52 of the New York Mets pitches during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on September 17, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Red Sox Target #2: Brad Hand

We’ve looked at securing second base and now it’s time to head to the bullpen to give the relievers, uh, some relief. While there were some other names on the market that I would’ve loved for Chaim to go out and get, he wasn’t going to overpay for someone because the lockout was looming. This is why I think Brad Hand could be a sneaky under the radar signing for the Red Sox bullpen.

Hand spent the entirety of the 2021 season spead among three teams over the American and National leagues. He began the year with the Nationals but would also spend time with the Blue Jays and Mets. His time in the NL went pretty well as he had a 3.59 ERA with the Nats and a 2.70 with the Mets. Unfortunately, his trip north of the border is what sunk is season ERA to a 3.90 as he had a 7.27 ERA with Toronto.

Normally I wouldn’t be trying to sign a guy that couldn’t perform in the AL East but I really feel that his time with the Jays was an aboration. He only pitched in 8 2/3 innings for the Jays before he was designated for assignment. His 42.2 with Washington and 13.1 with New York are far more telling of the type of arm he can be and why I want him.

Hand earned $10.5M in 2021 and I think that fits right into Bloom’s sweetspot as far as budgets are concerned. He can send him an offer in the realm of two-years/$22M and give him a little raise. The Red Sox are in the good graces of the current Luxury Tax and with a new one still undecided, there’s nothing stopping them from getting a little loose with a deal or two.

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