The Mets missed out on a chance to fortify their bullpen Sunday, when lefty reliever 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 out the club’s mostly righty relief corps.
Team president Sandy Alderson said the Mets may have claimed Hand off outright waivers for $10 million plus a $50,000 transaction fee in November, had new ownership led by Steve Cohen been in control at that time.
Hand, who tuns 32 in March, was 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA, a 0.773 WHIP and 16 saves last season for Cleveland.
News of Hand’s deal with Washington was confirmed by The Post’s Joel Sherman.
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 female reporter while working for the Cubs five years earlier.
Alderson has since assumed GM responsibilities, a post he previously held with the Mets.
