MLB rumors: Sox reportedly ‘in' on closer Brad Hand

Share

Well, it sure sounds like the White Sox are looking for a closer.

After reports that the South Siders are interested in free agents Liam Hendriks and Alex Colomé, you can add Brad Hand to the list, as MLB Network's Jon Heyman tweeted Wednesday that they're among the teams "in" on the All-Star ninth-inning man formerly of the division-rival Cleveland Indians.

RELATED: Dylan Cease hoping for Lucas Giolito style turnaround in '21

Hand has been pretty terrific over the past few years, with a 2.61 ERA and more than 100 saves over the last four seasons, making a trio of All-Star teams from 2017 to 2019. Cleveland surprisingly decided to move on from Hand this winter rather than pick up his $10 million option for 2021. In an early signal of what baseball's economic landscape was going to look like this winter, 29 other teams passed on paying Hand that salary, too, and he went through waivers to free agency.

But available he is, making for a strong crop of free-agent closers the White Sox could choose from. Indeed, adding a veteran closer to maintain the status quo in what was a strong bullpen in 2020 seems to make a lot of sense, allowing the team's fleet of talented young arms to continue to pitch in the roles they flourished in last season.

Colomé, of course, had great success as the White Sox closer in each of the last two seasons. Hendriks, meanwhile, spent the same amount of time establishing himself as one of the finest ninth-inning men in baseball.

Any of the three would fit the bill for the White Sox and keep the relief corps a strength. Adding Colomé, Hendriks or Hand to a group that currently includes Aaron Bummer, Evan Marshall, Codi Heuer, Matt Foster and Garrett Crochet would help the South Siders toward a championship-caliber pitching staff ahead of a 2021 season with World Series expectations.

Contact Us