3 free-agent solutions if Yankees turn down Zack Britton’s 2022 option

The Yankees still haven’t made a decision on Zack Britton, so let’s prepare as if he’s leaving.

The New York Yankees need to decide whether or not they’re going to exercise Zack Britton’s 2022 contract option three days after the World Series. If they do, he’ll be signed to a two-year, $27 million deal. If they don’t, he’ll have a player option for the 2021 season, and one could assume he’d opt out of that to get more money.

As we’ve been doing all offseason long, let’s prepare for the worst. Let’s pretend as if the Yankees are going to decline the ’22 option and Britton will opt to hit free agency this offseason. Ok, now what?!

Well, it’s more than likely if the Yankees go the free-agent route, they’ll have to settle with a righty to take over the setup man role. There aren’t any high-end lefties available, so Cashman will have to work out a trade if he wants that. But there are relievers who have closing/setup experience that the Yankees could get for cheaper than Britton.

These guys could seamlessly take over eighth inning duties for the Bombers.

3. Dellin Betances

Former Yankees setup man Dellin Betances could be back in pinstripes soon.

Shave that beard, hop on the subway, and get back on over to the Bronx, Dellin Betances! What a turn of events this would be. And it would’ve played into the Yankees’ hands perfectly.

Betances pitched a fraction of an inning in 2019 due to shoulder issues and then suffered a partially-torn Achilles after celebrating a strikeout in his debut late in the year. That ended his time with the Yankees, since the team had other relief options and needed to spend elsewhere (Gerrit Cole).

So Betances signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the crosstown Mets, but he’s got a $6 million team option for 2021 and a $1 million player option for 2022. Given the pandemic-shortened season saw the right-hander log a 7.71 ERA and 2.06 WHIP in just 15 games, we’d venture to say the Mets aren’t going to pick up the tab on that $6 mil.

That’s where the Yankees can pounce. Betances clearly still needs some time to get back to his normal self, so elevate Chad Green to the setup role, let Betances log innings and get comfortable, and then deploy him appropriately. He’ll come cheap and the Yankees know what they can get out of him.

Worth a shot? Perhaps. But there are better options. This one should be a last resort.