The Mets missed the chance to strengthen their bullpen on Sunday, when left-hander Brad Hand signed a one-year, $ 10.5 million contract with the Nationals.
Hand had been on the Mets’ radar this offseason and would have helped balance the club’s much-needed support corps.
Team president Sandy Alderson previously said the Mets could have claimed direct waivers of $ 10 million plus a $ 50,000 transaction fee in November if Steve Cohen’s new property had been controlled at the time.
Hand, who turns 32 in March, eventually became a free agent. It was 2-1 with an ERA 2.05, a WHIP of 0.773 and 16 saves last season for Cleveland.
The news of Hand’s agreement 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 he sent explicit texts to a reporter while working for the Cubs five years earlier.
Since then, Alderson has taken on GM responsibilities, a position he previously held at the Mets.