On Hand's velocity, Lester's physical and Realmuto's signing

Some assorted news and notes for you on this Wednesday morning ...

* Much has been made of Brad Hand's diminished fastball velocity last season, and it has been presented as perhaps cause for concern as the left-hander joins the back end of the Nationals bullpen. But is this anything to actually worry about?

First, let's look at the numbers. Hand's four-seam fastball averaged 92.7 mph in 2019. It then dropped to 91.4 mph last season. That's not nothing. And yet, it should be noted hitters actually had more success of that pitch in 2019 than 2020. Two years ago, they hit .270 and slugged .440 off his fastball. Last year, they only hit .152 while slugging .273.

Hand's fastball spin rate has remained virtually the same (2,420 RPM in 2019, 2,453 RPM in 2020). And let the record show he did not surrender a home run in 2020 off his fastball (or any other pitch, for that matter).

So that should ease some of the concerns. Even so, Hand knows his velocity was down last year and he is working to reverse the trend this year.

"I've been trying to get that dialed up this offseason," he said Tuesday during a Zoom session with reporters. "It's been one of my biggest priorities this offseason, just to figure out what was going different, why the velocity wasn't there. Over the course of the year, I felt great. It just wasn't for some reason coming out the same that it had been. So that's one of the main reasons I started throwing earlier. ...

"As of right now, it's pretty good. We'll see what happens once games start. But where I'm at right now, I feel like I'm at a very good spot."

Keep in mind, too, that Hand's bread-and-butter pitch is his slider. It's the single biggest reason his career took off after moving from the rotation to the bullpen in 2016, he believes. That slider, which he threw 50.7 percent of the time last season, was pretty much untouchable by opponents, who batted .139 and slugged .167 off it.

* Hand was the third recent free agent signed by the Nationals to hold a Zoom session with reporters, joining Kyle Schwarber and Ryan Zimmerman. How come the fourth guy, Jon Lester, hasn't done his yet?

Lester agreed to terms on his one-year, $5 million contract with the Nats nine days ago. The club, though, has yet to formally announce it. And we've yet to actually hear from the veteran lefty.

Don't worry, though, both developments should be taking place in the next few days. Lester's contract wasn't going to become official until he passed a physical and, as reported on the night he agreed to terms, that physical wasn't expected to take place for several days.

Why the holdup? Well, it might just have something to do with the fact Lester was busy golfing all weekend. As a pro-am contestant in the LPGA's Tournament of Champions in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Lester was one of many current and former ballplayers who played in the event, including John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens, Mark Mulder, Derek Lowe, Tim Wakefield, Kevin Millar, Josh Donaldson, Brian McCann, Josh Beckett, Mark DeRosa and Joe Carter.

And because obviously you were wondering: Lester finished in a tie for 33rd place at 37 over par. He shot 81-77-81-82 over the four rounds and eagled the par-5 17th hole during Saturday's third round.

* Though the Hall of Fame (non) election was the biggest news in the baseball world Tuesday, there also was a flurry of free agent signings, including some big ones that had to be of interest to the Nationals.

The headliner was J.T. Realmuto, who at long last re-signed with the Phillies for a reported five years and $115 million. I know many of you out there were screaming for the Nats to sign the All-Star catcher, but it just wasn't going to happen at that price.

The Nationals do still need another catcher to share the job with Yan Gomes, and the pool of candidates is starting to get awfully thin. Wilson Ramos also came off the board Tuesday, signing a one-year, $2 million deal with the Tigers.

Who does that leave? According to MLBTradeRumors.com, the only free agent catchers left are Alex Avila, Robinson Chirinos, Tyler Flowers, Jeff Mathis, Yadier Molina, Josh Phegley, Rene Rivera, Matt Wieters and Tony Wolters.

It's still possible the Nats could try to acquire a catcher via trade. Or if nothing else looks better to Mike Rizzo, there's a chance the general manager could just hope one of his current in-house options (Tres Barrera, Raudy Read or Welington Castillo) suffices as Gomes' backup.

* There was also a sudden run on free agent infielders Tuesday. Marcus Semien is signing a one-year contract with the Blue Jays for $18 million. Andrelton Simmons went to the Twins for one year and $10.5 million. Tommy LaStella is finalizing a three-year deal with the Giants. César Hernández is returning to the Indians for $5 million. And Freddy Galvis is going to the Orioles for $1.5 million.

We've discussed here whether the Nationals are in the market for another infielder or not. They don't have to make a move, if they believe Carter Kieboom is the answer at third base. But if they're less sure of that, there are fewer options out there today than there were at the start of the week.