The New York Yankees have strengthened their already tough bullpen by adding Zach Britton from the Baltimore Orioles.
The New York Yankees have acquired left-handed reliever Zach Britton from the Baltimore Orioles per Jon Heyman of Fancred. The deal is pending physicals.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, New York will send No. 9 overall prospect Dillon Tate to Baltimore along with two other pitching prospects. Josh Rogers is likely one of the other two prospects per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
it is indeed Tate, Rogers and Carroll going to O's for Britton, pending medicals.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 25, 2018
Double A RHP Dillon Tate, #Yankees’ No. 9 prospect per @MLBPipeline will indeed headline Britton deal with #Orioles if completed, per source. Fourth overall pick by TEX in 2015, traded to NYY for Carlos Beltran at 2017 deadline.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 25, 2018
New York would be wise to also add a starter ahead of the deadline, but Britton adds to an already strong bullpen. He has four saves and a 3.45 ERA since returning from a torn Achilles last month and has not allowed a single run in July. Britton also throws a power sinker that has come back to life in recent outings. Last season, that pitch helped him post an incredible groundball rate of 72.6 percent.
The Yankees are sending over a package that includes three minor league prospects. Tate is a 24-year-old righty initially acquired from the Texas Rangers via the Carlos Beltran trade in 2016. He is 5-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 15 starts for the Double-A Trenton Thunder this season and also has a fine 1.11 WHIP. Sherman also mentioned lefty Josh Rogers as a possible piece in the deal, and Rogers is 6-8 with a 3.95 ERA in 19 starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Long story short, the Yankees got a great arm in Zach Britton. He strengthens the bridge to closer Aroldis Chapman and could pick up some save opportunities himself if Chapman’s knee continues to act up.
Not only that, but New York is still in a strong position to trade for a starting pitcher. As the race for the AL East heats up, don’t be shocked if this isn’t the only move Cashman pulls off ahead of next week.
