The Cleveland Indians entered the All-Star break with six All-Stars. They'll come back with seven. On Tuesday, the Indians announced they have acquired All-Star reliever Brad Hand -- and rookie reliever Adam Cimber -- from the San Diego Padres.
In return, Cleveland will send top prospect Francisco Mejia to San Diego.
Details of the deal were first reported by MLB of FOX and The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
An All-Star in each of the past two seasons, Hand has amassed a 3.05 earned run average to go along with 65 strikeouts and 24 saves in 41 appearances this season. The 28-year-old left-hander pitched a perfect inning of relief for the National League at the MLB All-Star Game in Washington D.C. on Tuesday.
Perhaps more importantly for
A 27-year-old rookie, Cimber lays claim to a 3-5 record, 3.17 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 42 appearances this season.
The No. 1 ranked prospect in the Cleveland organization, Mejia had been called up just prior to the All-Star break, appearing as a designated hitter in a game against the New York Yankees. Although he had primarily played catcher in the minor leagues, the Indians had experimented with Mejia at outfield and third base in hopes expediting his major league arrival.
"Offensively, he's so advanced," Indians manager Terry Francona said of Mejia at spring training. "If something happens in April, May or June, he's probably our best minor league hitter. If he's able to play another position, does that speed up his ascent to the major leagues?"
In 79 games in Triple-A Columbus this season, the 22-year-old Mejia hit for a .279 average, .328 on-base percentage and .755 OPS to go along with 7 home runs and 45 RBIs.
But for the Indians, the opportunity to bolster what has been an inconsistent bullpen proved to be too much to pass on. Perhaps most importantly for Cleveland, Hand remains under team control through 2021, after having signed a three-year, $19.75 million contract in January. As a rookie, Cimber will remain under team control with Cleveland for five-plus years.