Hand instantly makes Tribe better

You never know about prospects — which is the very definition of prospects — but established players have a history of success, and that’s why the Indians deserve two thumbs up for the trade they made the day before the season resumes.

The Tribe on July 19 sent top prospect Francisco Mejia, a catcher, to the San Diego Padres for left-handed pitcher Brad Hand and right-handed pitcher Adam Cimber.

The swap 12 days before the July 31 trade deadline solidifies the Indians bullpen in the same way acquiring Andrew Miller from the Yankees at the trade two years ago bolstered the pen in 2016.

The Indians would not have made it to the 2016 World Series without Miller. Now with Cimber, and especially Hand, the Indians fixed the biggest pot hole on which they hope is another road to the World Series. The Indians head into the final 67 games of the season with the 29thranked bullpen in baseball with a 5.29 ERA.

“One of our goals was to not only impact this year’s team, but to put us in a better position moving forward as we construct our roster for the next few seasons,” Indians president Chris Antonetti said during a news conference at Progressive Field. “This trade addresses a big need both in the short term and long term for us.”

Hand is under contract through 2020 with a club option for 2021. Cimber, a rookie, is under the Indians’ control through 2023.

Miller, Indians closer Cody Allen and reliever Zach McAllister will be free agents next winter.

The Indians get free agent insurance as well as immediate help by making this trade.

Antonetti expects Hand and Cimber to be with the Indians on July 20 in Arlington, Texas, when the Tribe opens a three-game series with the Rangers. It shouldn’t take long for either player to find a niche in the bullpen. It isn’t like making a trade in the NFL or NBA at midseason where a new player has to fit into a new scheme.

Hand has 24 saves with the Padres in 2018 — third-most in the National League and four more than Indians closer Cody Allen. Hand has a 3.05 ERA and 65 strikeouts over 41 1/3 innings. Allen has pitched 38 2/3 innings and has a 4.66 ERA. Allen has allowed six home runs. Hand has allowed five home runs.

Cimber, with a sidearm delivery, will be used mostly against right-handed hitters. Right-handed batters are hitting .210 off him with one home run in 119 at-bats.

“We’re trying to build a deep and versatile bullpen that can attack no matter who the hitter is,” Antonetti said. “Right-handed hitter, left-handed hitter — we have weapons out there we feel can be successful in those situations.

“The thing we’re feeling good about is we have a group of players capable of pitching high-leverage situations against some of the game’s best hitters. We’re trying to improve the number of options we have to do that.”

Manager Terry Francona now has a righthanded closer in Allen and a lefty closer in Hand. He can use one as the set-up man and one to pitch the ninth inning.

Miller is close to returning from a knee injury. There is no solid target date for his return, but he hopes to be back on the mound around Aug. 1.

Hand throws a nasty slider, similar to Miller. The Indians have one of the best rotations in baseball. Now all they have to do is get through six innings and the bullpen can do the rest. That is the winning formula in the playoffs.

The Indians part with Mejia reluctantly, but the Tribe is solid at catcher with Roberto Perez (under team control through 2022) and Yan Gomes (under team control through 2021).

Mejia isn’t just the Indians’ top prospect. He’s rated 15th overall by MLB Pipeline. He was hitting .279 at Triple-A Columbus with 30 extrabase hits.

“We all feel that Francisco’s going to be a really good player,” Antonetti said. “But in order to be able to get back what we view are really high-leverage, high-impact relievers, we knew we were going to have to give up a lot of value. We were fortunate that we do have some catching depth within the organization, and that depth allowed us to consider a trade like this.”

Mejia someday might be an All-Star catcher with the Padres. Clint Frazier was the Indians’ No. 1 prospect when he was sent to the Yankees in the deal for Miller. Frazier might someday be an All-Star, too.

But acquiring Hand and Cimber, with Miller getting healthier and the top half of the Indians lineup crushing the baseball, means the Indians have a chance to win. Now.

The future can wait.

ALEX GALLARDO — ASSOCIATED PRESS Brad Hand delivers to the Cubs on July 13 in San Diego. Hand and righthanded reliever Adam Cimber were traded to the Indians on July 19.