Reports: Yankees agree to deal for Orioles LHP Britton

[July 25, 2018]  The New York Yankees have agreed to a deal to acquire left-handed reliever Zach Britton from the Baltimore Orioles, according to multiple reports Tuesday.

The Orioles reportedly will receive three prospects, with right-hander Dillon Tate headlining the return, and left-hander Josh Rogers and right-hander Cody Carroll also in the package.

Tate was scratched from his Tuesday start at Double-A Trenton, according to The Athletic. The 24-year-old is the Yankees' ninth-ranked prospect, per MLB.com.

With the Yankees, Britton would serve as a setup man in front of star closer Aroldis Chapman. New York pursued Orioles shortstop Manny Machado before he was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers last week.

Britton, a two-time All-Star, is making $12 million this year and will be a free agent at season's end.

The Yankees, who are five games back of the Boston Red Sox in the American League East after Tuesday's results, have a major-league-best 2.75 bullpen ERA this season.

The Orioles defeated the Red Sox 7-6 on Tuesday, with Baltimore manager Buck Showalter refraining from using Britton in the ninth to close out the game, which featured a brief rain delay.

"There's something going on. I thought it was in the best interest ... of Zach and the organization for Zach not to pitch in that situation," Showalter told reporters. "It wasn't weather-related."

Britton has four saves and a 3.45 ERA in 16 games this season, beginning the year on the 60-day disabled list following right Achilles surgery during the offseason. He was activated from the DL on June 11.

The 30-year-old posted a 2.89 ERA in 38 appearances in 2017, missing time due to a forearm injury. He saw his AL record streak of consecutive saves converted snapped at 60 during the season.

Orioles relief pitcher Zach Britton (53) pitches during the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Britton had a run of 43 straight appearances without allowing a run in 2016, the longest such streak of scoreless outings in modern baseball history. He posted a 0.54 ERA in 69 outings that year, converted all 47 of his save opportunities and finished fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

For his career, Britton has a 3.22 ERA in 306 games (46 starts) in eight seasons with Baltimore.

Tate, 24, came to the Yankees from the Texas Rangers in the 2016 Carlos Beltran trade. The former first-round pick, No. 4 overall in 2015, has a 3.38 ERA in 15 starts with Trenton this season.

Rogers and Carroll are both on the roster at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Rogers, 24, is 6-8 with a 3.95 ERA in 19 starts. Carroll, 25, has nine saves and a 2.38 ERA in 32 relief appearances, striking out 55 batters in 41 2/3 innings.

--Field Level Media

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