The Mets missed a chance to strengthen their bullpen on Sunday, when left-wing reliever Brad Hand signed a $ 10.5 million one-year contract with the Nationals.
Hand had been on Mets’ radar this off-season and would have helped to balance the club’s most powerful corps.
Team president Sandy Alderson said earlier that the Mets may have claimed outright waivers from Hand off for $ 10 million plus a $ 50,000 transaction fee in November, if the new property led by Steve Cohen was in control at the time.
Hand, who turns 32 in March, ended up becoming a free agent. He was 2-1 with 2.05 ERA, 0.773 WHIP and 16 saves last season for Cleveland.
The News of Hand deal with Washington was confirmed by Joel Sherman of the Post.
The Mets have been without a general manager since Jared Porter was fired last week after it was revealed that he had sent explicit texts to a reporter while working for the Cubs five years earlier.
Alderson has since taken over GM’s responsibilities, a position he previously held at Mets.