The New York Yankees have acquired Baltimore Orioles reliever Zach Britton in exchange for three pitching prospects. Right-handers Dillon Tate and Cody Carroll and lefty Josh Rogers are headed to Baltimore in the exchange, which was initially reported as a done deal by Fancred.
Trade: The Yankees have acquired LHP Zach Britton from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for RHP Dillon Tate, RHP Cody Carroll and LHP Josh Rogers.
— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) July 25, 2018
Britton, 30, has been limited to 16 appearances this season due to an Achilles injury. In those games, he's posted a 3.45 ERA and 1.30 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has seen his velocity improve recently, and has held the opposition to three hits in his last eight appearances -- though he's also walked four and struck out just six.
A free agent at season's end, Britton will join an already strong Yankees bullpen that features Aroldis Chapman, Chad Green, David Robertson, and Dellin Betances -- not to mention Jonathan Holder, Adam Warren, or A.J. Cole.
The #Yankees will pay the entire remainder of Zach Britton’s salary, about $4.5 million
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 25, 2018
MLB.com had Tate ranked as the Yankees' ninth-best prospect due to a four-pitch arsenal led by a plus fastball. He's missed time due to injury in each season since being picked fourth overall in the 2015 draft, and could well end up in the bullpen. The Yankees acquired him in exchange for Carlos Beltran back in 2016. He has a 3.38 ERA and 3.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 15 starts this season in Double-A.
Carroll, a reliever, ranked 15th in the Yankees' system. He has a near-elite fastball, but has struggled to throw strikes throughout his career, hence a walk rate north of four batters per nine. He could be a late-inning reliever if his command improves. Rogers, meanwhile, was not ranked in the Yankees' top-30. He does have a 3.95 ERA and 2.86 strikeout-to-walk ratio this season in 19 Triple-A starts, however.
Always worthwhile to caution a deal is NOT done until it is done and no team fails more players during physical review than the #Orioles. But everyone I have reached out to describe it as agreed upon, waiting push over goal line. #Yankees #Britton
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 25, 2018
The deal won't be official until physicals are passed. Given Tate's injury history and the Orioles' reputation, that's no sure thing.
