Miami Marlins' lefty Brad Hand might be traded this July.
With the Marlins getting Jose Fernandez back from the DL today, the team finds themselves with a surplus of pitchers. If the team decides to sell after Giancarlo Stanton went down to his injury, Hand could be among the first to go. Hand's 5.95 ERA in 39.1 innings does not look appealing to many teams, but when you dig a little deeper, it makes more sense why teams have interest in the swingman. First, Hand's 5.95 ERA isn't a good indication of how he has done. His 2.55 FIP and 3.76 xFIP, however, are. They suggest that Hand's ERA is at least 2.19 runs overinflated, due to factors outside his control, such as an extremely high .370 BABIP. Second, as a swingman, Hand makes himself more valuable. Being able to both start and relieve is a skill that not many pitchers have. Hand can do that and do it as a left-hander, which is an added bonus for obvious reasons. Finally, Hand has the stuff to be successful at the big league level. He has a fastball which he can dial up to 95 mph, a cutter that strikes out hitters, and a two-seamer with movement, while also mixing in a change-up. The Marlins are willing to move Hand because he is out of options, meaning that if he was sent to Triple-A, he would have the right to reject the assignment and become a free agent, where he would almost certainly sign a deal. Thus, they either need to keep him on the active roster or deal him by July 31. The Texas Rangers have been connected to Hand. --Devan Fink
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