Advertisement

Indians acquire Padres closer Hand

Closer Brad Hand was traded from the San Diego Padres to the Cleveland Indians on Thursday, MLB Network reported. The Indians also acquired submarining right-hander Adam Cimber, who was a 3.17 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings as a rookie, and received Cleveland's top prospect, Francisco Mejia, in return. Hand, 28, posted a 3.05 ERA and 24 saves in 44 1/3 innings pitched this season. An All-Star in 2017, Hand registered a career-low 2.16 ERA last season. Hand is under contract for the next two seasons for a total of $13.5 million and has a team option for 2021. Mejia, rated as the top prospect in the Indians system by Baseball America and No. 15 overall on MLB.com's Top 100 list, was batting .279 with 22 doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 45 RBI in 79 games for Triple-A Columbus this season. Mejia, a 22-year-old switch-hitter, has played games at catcher (41), third base (1), left field (23) and right field (7) in 2018. Cleveland's pitching staff has been one of the best in baseball anchored by right-hander Corey Kluber. The bullpen, which helped the team to the 2016 World Series, remains a strength with Andrew Miller and Cody Allen at the back end. Miller and Allen can both hit free agency after this season. Hand spent the first five seasons of his career with the Marlins before a trade to the Padres. --Field Level Media