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The Yankees are interested in possibly acquiring Padres’ reliever Brad Hand, according to George A. King III of the New York Post.
King III said that the Padres have sent David Post, a special assistant to general manager A.J. Preller, to follow the Yanks’ Triple-A club, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders. The Padres are expected to trade Hand this season and Post’s presence could indicate who they may want to get for him in return.
The 27-year-old Hand has been a great reliever for San Diego for the last two years since being selected off waivers from the Marlins. Last year, he led the National League with 82 appearances while posting a 2.92 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP and 111 strikeouts in 89 1⁄3 innings pitched (11.2 K/9). This season, he was chosen as an All-Star for the first time in his seven-year career after having a 2.30 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and 11.5 K/9 on 60 Ks in 47 innings.
The Yankees could use Hand in their bullpen. They have 17 blown saves, which is the most in baseball. They also have only 17 saves, which is the sixth least in all of MLB, and 15 losses, which is ranked the 10th highest. In addition, Hand is not a free agent until 2020, which could give the Yankees a three-headed monster in the bullpen in him, Dellin Betances and closer Aroldis Chapman through at least 2019.