The Cleveland Indians announced on Thursday that they've traded for San Diego Padres All-Star reliever Brad Hand and reliever Adam Cimber in exchange for catching prospect, Francisco Mejia.

Cleveland has built up one of the best bullpens in all of baseball, led by 2016 ALCS MVP Andrew Miller and All-Star closer, Cody Allen. But with both players slated to enter free agency this winter, it was imperative for the Indians to find another option beyond 2018. Hand signed a three-year extension with the Padres in January, so he's not only a rental for Cleveland.

Entering the weekend, the Indians sit at 52-43, 7.5 games up on the Minnesota Twins for the AL Central division lead. But after falling one game short of winning the World Series in 2016 and an early exit in last year's ALDS, the Indians are really going for it.

The 28-year-old Hand has pitched 44.1 innings thus far, posting 24 saves, three holds, a 3.05 ERA and 65 strikeouts. Hand has been one of the most effective relievers over the last three years, and players like him can be the ultimate game-changers in the postseason.

As for Cimber, he's appeared in 42 games thus far and has a 3-5 record, with a 3.17 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 48.1 innings pitched. With Allen trying to find consistency and Miller battling a knee injury, bolstering the bullpen depth was crucial for the Indians, and they didn't have to part with any of their key roster players.

Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

MLB.com lists Mejia as the best catching prospect in all of baseball, and the Padres have one of the game's elite farm systems. Though losing Hand will undoubtedly hurt the production from their bullpen, getting a future star in Mejia is key for a franchise that's trying to build with young talent.

NEXT: RANKING THE 1ST, 2ND & 3RD OVERALL MLB DRAFT PICKS FROM THE 2000S