Colorado Rockies Sign Lefty Free Agent Reliever

The Colorado Rockies were looking to add another left-hander to their bullpen, and have dipped into the free agent market for one of the last available arms, signing reliever Brad Hand. 

Free-agent veteran reliever Brad Hand has found a job. He is signing with the Colorado #Rockies. He'll earn $2 million, per @Ken_Rosenthal

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 4, 2023

It's a one-year, $2M deal for Hand, with a $1.5M salary in 2023, and then a $500K buyout for 2024 if the club doesn't exercise its $7M option for that season. 

Hand, turning 33 this month, is a three-time All-Star in his 12-year career, but his performance has slipped in the past couple of years and he can no longer be relied upon to close games with any regularity.  

Hand spent the 2022 season with the Philadelphia Phillies where he posted a 2.80 ERA, but a weak 38:23 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 45 innings. At least he limited home runs in '22, unlike his 2021 season. Keeping the ball in the park is of utmost importance, of course, for any Rockies pitcher.

Over his 12-year career, Hand owns a 3.62 ERA with 131 saves. His highlight was the shortened 2020 season, when, in 22 innings, he recorded a major league-high 16 saves with a 2.05 ERA for Cleveland. 

Hand joins other Rockies bullpen additions this offseason, Pierce Johnson, Nick Mears, Brent Suter and Ty Blach and Fernando Abad.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Hand, right-handed pitcher Tyler Kinley has been placed on the 60-day injured list.

Photo: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports