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Yankees trade three prospects to Orioles for closer Zach Britton
The New York Yankees have acquired former All-Star reliever Zach Britton from the Baltimore Orioles for three minor league pitchers in a trade announced Tuesday night.
The deal sends right-handed starter Dillon Tate, left-handed starter Josh Rogers and righty reliever Cody Carroll to Baltimore.
Britton, 30, has amassed 139 saves for the Orioles since 2013. He was the top bullpen arm available on the market after Kelvin Herrera, Brad Hand and Jeurys Familia changed teams via trades since mid-June.
Britton had ruptured his right Achilles during an offseason workout session and didn't make his 2018 debut until June 12.
A former third-round pick of the Orioles in 2006, Britton was drafted as a starter. After moving to the bullpen at the beginning of 2014, he emerged as one of the most dominant relievers in the majors, recording a sub-2.00 ERA and 30-plus saves in three straight seasons.
In 2016, he went 47-for-47 in save opportunities, posted a 0.54 ERA and finished fourth in the American League Cy Young Award balloting.
Over the past two seasons, the 30-year-old southpaw has struggled to stay healthy. In 2017, Britton served two separate stints on the disabled list with a left forearm strain. This past December, he suffered the ruptured Achilles tendon.
Since making his season debut on June 12, Britton has a 3.45 ERA in 16 appearances, and he has converted four of five save chances. After a rocky start, the eight-year veteran has been more effective recently, working eight consecutive scoreless outings. During that stretch, he has allowed three hits over eight innings, striking out six and walking four.
Britton is a free agent after this season. He signed a one-year, $12 million deal earlier this year, avoiding arbitration.
Tate is the prime piece going back to Baltimore.
The Texas Rangers selected Tate with the fourth overall pick in the 2015 draft, then traded him a year later to New York for a package highlighted by Carlos Beltran. The 24-year-old is 5-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 15 starts with Double-A Trenton this year. Prior to the season, ESPN's Keith Law ranked Tate as the eighth-best prospect in the Yankees' system.
Carroll and Rogers also were in the 2015 draft class.
Carroll, taken by the Yankees in the 22nd round out of Southern Mississippi, was ranked as the team's No. 15 prospect by MLB Pipeline entering this season. In 32 relief appearances at Triple-A Scranton, the 25-year-old righty was 3-0 with nine saves and a 2.81 ERA.
Rogers was an 11th-round pick out of Louisville. The 24-year-old southpaw was 6-8 with a 3.95 ERA in 19 starts with Scranton.
The deal sends right-handed starter Dillon Tate, left-handed starter Josh Rogers and righty reliever Cody Carroll to Baltimore.
Britton, 30, has amassed 139 saves for the Orioles since 2013. He was the top bullpen arm available on the market after Kelvin Herrera, Brad Hand and Jeurys Familia changed teams via trades since mid-June.
Britton had ruptured his right Achilles during an offseason workout session and didn't make his 2018 debut until June 12.
A former third-round pick of the Orioles in 2006, Britton was drafted as a starter. After moving to the bullpen at the beginning of 2014, he emerged as one of the most dominant relievers in the majors, recording a sub-2.00 ERA and 30-plus saves in three straight seasons.
In 2016, he went 47-for-47 in save opportunities, posted a 0.54 ERA and finished fourth in the American League Cy Young Award balloting.
Over the past two seasons, the 30-year-old southpaw has struggled to stay healthy. In 2017, Britton served two separate stints on the disabled list with a left forearm strain. This past December, he suffered the ruptured Achilles tendon.
Since making his season debut on June 12, Britton has a 3.45 ERA in 16 appearances, and he has converted four of five save chances. After a rocky start, the eight-year veteran has been more effective recently, working eight consecutive scoreless outings. During that stretch, he has allowed three hits over eight innings, striking out six and walking four.
Britton is a free agent after this season. He signed a one-year, $12 million deal earlier this year, avoiding arbitration.
Tate is the prime piece going back to Baltimore.
The Texas Rangers selected Tate with the fourth overall pick in the 2015 draft, then traded him a year later to New York for a package highlighted by Carlos Beltran. The 24-year-old is 5-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 15 starts with Double-A Trenton this year. Prior to the season, ESPN's Keith Law ranked Tate as the eighth-best prospect in the Yankees' system.
Carroll and Rogers also were in the 2015 draft class.
Carroll, taken by the Yankees in the 22nd round out of Southern Mississippi, was ranked as the team's No. 15 prospect by MLB Pipeline entering this season. In 32 relief appearances at Triple-A Scranton, the 25-year-old righty was 3-0 with nine saves and a 2.81 ERA.
Rogers was an 11th-round pick out of Louisville. The 24-year-old southpaw was 6-8 with a 3.95 ERA in 19 starts with Scranton.