Yankees Rumors: Zach Britton would like to return to the Bombers

Former Orioles closer Zach Britton was traded to the Yankees before the July 31 deadline, and thus far, he’s been a great help to the bullpen.

Brendan Kuty of NJ.com is reporting that Zach Britton would love to return to the Yankees in 2019. It appears the Bombers are one of his top choices when he enters the free agency market this winter, but only for the right price.

The Yanks acquired Britton from the Orioles on July 24 for pitching prospects Dillon Tate (right-hander), Cody Carroll (right-hander) and Josh Rogers (left-handed). New York even paid Britton’s remaining 2019 salary to close the deal.

However, at first, the trade looked a little lopsided as Britton was struggling in the first 13 games since he was traded to the Yanks. In August he had a 4.73 ERA, giving up 13 hits, seven earned runs and two home runs. Luckily, he started changing things around in September putting up a 0.77 ERA, while giving up only six hits and having one earned run.

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Britton was with the Orioles’ for his entire baseball career — eight years. Originally drafted by the O’s in the third round of the 2006 MLB draft, Baltimore is now in rebuilding mode, hence the reason he was traded to within the division.

A two-time All-Star in 2015 and 2016, Britton earned the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award in ’16.

The report from NJ.com states that Britton will likely seek closer-like money and that the Yankees are reluctant to dispense him that kind of cash since Aroldis Chapman is owed a boat-load.

A source with knowledge of the Yankees’ personnel decisions told NJ Advance Media said it’s expected that Britton will seek closer money in the open market, and that the team would be highly unlikely to pursue at that level considering the presence of Aroldis Chapman, whose owed $45 million through 2021.

Britton, himself, is thrilled with how the Yankees have supported his family.

“I’m sure we’ll kind of see where they are and where we are, but I would definitely love to be back,” Britton said. “I don’t know where they are in terms of arbitration raises and all that, but this would definitely be one of my top choices.”“And that’s one of the things I’ve been most impressed with, how they have taken care of my wife and the kids,” Britton said. “That’s a huge component people don’t realize that. But if I know they’re taken care of when I go to the stadium, it makes it easier for me to go out there and do what I need to do.

Reliever David Robertson will also become a free agent at seasons end. He’s concluding a four-year, $46 million deal. Acquired by the Yankees in 2017, along with third baseman Todd Frazier and reliever Tommy Kahnle for outfield prospect Blake Rutherford, reliever Tyler Clippard, minor league pitcher Ian Clarkin and outfielder prospect, Tito Polo.

It’s entirely possible New York could wave goodbye to D-Rob, in hopes spreading some of his earnings to Britton.

I wouldn’t mind seeing Britton back, but I’m not a fan of pay closer money to a non-closer. I feel closers make way too much as it is, especially for one inning. And fans wonder why tickets cost so much! Britton is getting the job done so far, and that’s all the fans care about. But let’s see how the season concludes before talking any new deals.