Dodgers: The five trade targets that make the Dodgers better in 2018
By Jason Reed
2. LHP Brad Hand
Brad Hand is one of the best relievers in all of baseball and nobody really realizes that because he plays on the San Diego Padres. Hand is a guy that has already been tied to the Dodgers before and seemed to be on his way out of San Diego during last season’s trade deadline. The Padres held on to Hand for the end of 2017 but his 2018 could still be up in the air.
The Dodgers are the perfect team to inquire for Hand and give the Padres a fair return. Los Angeles is stacked on prospects in their farm so they can afford a middle to upper-level prospect for Hand. Plus, there is a hole that needs to be filled in Los Angeles and a guy like Brad Hand would be the perfect suitor.
The Dodgers could be taking some big hits to their bullpen this offseason. Workhorse Brandon Morrow is a free agent and may look to walk to pursue a closer role elsewhere. Also, trade acquisition Tony Watson is also a free agent. Watson was a huge situational arm in the Dodgers bullpen in the second half and without him, the left-handed arms are cut dry.
There is no better left-handed reliever in the game than Hand, though, Last season, Hand threw 79.1 innings with a 2.16 ERA and 104 strikeouts. He is the perfect man to set up for the Dodgers and the perfect man for all of Dave Roberts‘ situational bullpen moves.