Yankees add to stellar bullpen, trade for Zach Britton

Late Tuesday night, the New York Yankees announced they had acquired closer Zach Britton from the Baltimore Orioles. The acquisition strengthens the Yankees already deep bullpen.

The Orioles will receive three minor league pitchers from the Yankees organization; right-handers Dillon Tate and Cody Carroll and left-hander Josh Rogers. Tate is the headliner.

With Aroldis Chapman handling the closing duties for the Yankees, Britton will likely be used in various ways. He can fill in as closer when Chapman needs a day of rest. He can also be a lefty set-up option to pair with dominant right-hander Dellin Betances.

The Yankees now have a lefty to use in key situations. Chapman throws from the left side, but as a closer, he is unable to enter a game in the sixth of seventh to battle an opposing teams left-handed hitter. Chasen Shreve is the only other lefty in the bullpen for the Yankees and he has been less than effective for much of this season.

Britton was 1-0 with four saves and a 3.45 ERA in 16 appearances with the Orioles this season after returning from the DL. He had missed the beginning of the season while recovering from right Achilles surgery.

Britton has been one of the games best closers. In 2016, he was named the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year after recording a 0.54 ERA and converting all 47 save opportunities. Through his eight Major League seasons (all with Baltimore), Britton is 30-22 with a 3.22 ERA and 139 saves.

Adding Britton to the bullpen can potentially shorten a game for a Yankees starter as well. Think about it; take Sonny Gray for example. If the Yankees are able to get Gray through five innings and stay in the game, they can potentially follow him up with David Robertson, Betances, Britton, and Chapman. Game over. That’s not even mentioning Chad Green, Adam Warren, A.J. Cole, and others at the disposal of manager Aaron Boone.

In Tate, the Yankees send their No. 6 prospect to Baltimore. He was 5-2 with a 3.38 ERA with Double-A Trenton this season. He has been exceptionally hot of late, going 4-0 with a 2.70 ERA over his last nine starts.

Carroll and Rogers were both at the Triple-A level in the Yankees organization. Carroll went 3-0 with nine saves in 12 chances, appearing in 32 games and registering a 2.38 ERA this season. Opponents are hitting just .184 against his this year. Rogers started 19 games for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season and was 6-8 with a 3.95 ERA.

Not only do the Yankees strengthen their own bullpen with the addition of Britton, they also keep him from other American League pennant contenders. It had been rumored both the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros wanted to complete a trade for the reliever.