The Boston Red Sox are doing better than expected at the start of the 2024 season, bringing a winning record into their home opener mostly because of a pitching staff that has become one of the best in baseball.
But that staff has one important roster problem: there is only one left-handed pitcher available in the relief group, Joely Rodríguez, and he has not been doing well. To address this issue, Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report has suggested signing the free agent Brad Hand, who is a three-time All-Star, as a move that the Red Sox should make immediately.
“Between 2016 to 2020, Brad Hand was a three-time All-Star who had a 2.70 ERA and struck out 12.2 batters per nine innings,” Rymer noted. “Joely Rodríguez is the only left-handed pitcher in Boston’s bullpen, and opposing batters are 4-for-13 with a walk and a home run against him. The Red Sox therefore need to consider other options, including signing Hand.”
Despite Struggles, Reliever Brad Hand Has Been Effective Against Lefties
Even though he has a good track record including a 3.75 career ERA, 132 saves, and 782 strikeouts in 13 seasons in the major leagues, Hand had a tough time in 2023. Over the offseason, the Atlanta Braves refused his $7 million mutual option and paid him $500,000 after he performed with a 7.50 ERA in 20 games for the club after being traded from the Colorado Rockies.
“Hand had a 5-3 record with a 5.53 ERA overall in 60 games (in 2023),” according to the Associated Press. “The 13-year veteran of the major league has a record of 40-55 with a 3.75 ERA in 43 starts and 536 relief appearances for the Marlins (2011-15), San Diego (2016-18), Cleveland (2018-20), Washington (2021), the New York Mets (2021), Toronto (2021), Philadelphia (2022), Colorado, and Atlanta.”
But there’s reason to believe that he can still be effective against left-handed hitters.
“Even throughout last season, Hand continued to perform well against left-handed batters, with a .200 average and a .583 OPS,” Rymer noted. “They couldn’t handle his sweeper, batting .170 against it with 22 strikeouts in 47 at-bats.”
The Boston Red Sox Might Now Become Buyers on the 2024 Season
Although it’s still early, the Red Sox front office might see a more realistic path to the playoffs emerging, leading them to take a relatively low-risk chance on Hand.
The team has performed in the middle of the MLB pack in most hitting categories, but the pitching staff is leading all teams with a 1.49 ERA and is in the top three with 105 strikeouts and six saves.
“They’re coming home with the best pitching staff in baseball,” Gabe Lacques wrote for USA Today. “Boston easily leads the majors with a 1.49 ERA (Cleveland is second at 2.28), with the starting staff of Brayan Bello, Garrett Whitlock, Kutter Crawford, Nick Pivetta, and Tanner Houch combining for a 1.53 ERA, an apparently enthusiastic approval of new pitching coach Andrew Bailey.”
If the Red Sox can strengthen the bullpen behind these successful starters, they may be able to keep up their strong start well into the season. And Bailey might be just the kind of mentor Hand needs to return to his All-Star form, or at least improve in that direction against left-handed batters.
