ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Until injuries affected the past two seasons, Zach Britton was among the elite closers in baseball. A darting, 98 mph fastball from the lefty dominated hitters from each side of the plate and turned him into an All-Star in 2015 and 2016.
Beginning Thursday night in The Bronx, Britton will no longer be used exclusively in the closer’s role after being dealt from the lowly Orioles to the Yankees late Tuesday evening for minor league pitchers Dillon Tate, Cody Carroll and Josh Rogers.
Aroldis Chapman, who has converted 26 of 27 save chances, remains manager Aaron Boone’s top choice to close games, with Britton available to work in multiple roles.
“Chappy is our closer,” Boone said of the gas-throwing lefty, who has been dealing with a left knee issue that kept him from participating in the All-Star Game. “I am sure there will be opportunities [for Britton] on a day maybe we stay away from Chappy or it is three [days] in a row for Chappy.”
Britton, 30, joins a pen that was considered the best in baseball before the deal thanks to talent and depth. With 120 saves from 2014 to 2016, he has faced right-handed and left-handed hitters late in games, so matchups won’t play as big a part in whom he faces and in what inning. Most important, Boone won’t have to overwork Dellin Betances, David Robertson, Chad Green and Chapman with Britton lurking in the bullpen.
“We feel having so many quality guys, that allows us to really preserve and protect the best we can, but Chappy is our closer,” said Boone, who talked to Britton late Tuesday night and will welcome him to the club Thursday.
Britton, who has appeared in eight games with four saves after coming back from an offseason Achilles injury, will be a free agent following the season, and with Chapman having three years and $51.6 million remaining on his contract, it’s not likely Britton would want to sign with the Yankees with no opportunity to close. As for what he will do out of the pen, that will be discussed Thursday.
“We will sit down when he gets in and have a conversation about roles,” Boone said. “And try to get him acclimated and comfortable in a new situation.”
General manager Brian Cashman, who talked to O’s GM Dan Duquette about Manny Machado before he was dealt to the Dodgers, said he didn’t acquire Britton because he was concerned about Chapman’s knee.
“It has been something he has been dealing with and pitching with. We had the one episode before the All-Star break. He has been dealing with the issue and been successful despite the issue. It’s a maintenance thing,’’ Cashman said of Chapman, whose only appearance since the All-Star Game was Saturday against the Mets when he faced five batters and walked three, hit one and gave up a single.
“That didn’t factor into any acquisition, whether it was a closer from another club or if we imported a setup man or reinforced long man. None of that had anything to do with the decision-making.”
Naturally, the Yankees don’t want Britton to try to be anything he isn’t.
“We are not asking Zach Britton to come here and be anything more than he already is,” said Cashman, who continues to hunt for a starter before Tuesday’s non-waiver trade deadline.
Considering who Britton’s pen pals will be, that should be more than enough.
