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Yankees Pick Up Zack Britton’s Option

By Connor Byrne | October 29, 2020 at 6:01pm CDT

The Yankees have exercised reliever Zack Britton’s option, thereby keeping the left-hander under contract for the next two years, Andy Martino of SNY reports. The team had been facing a decision over whether to pick up a $14MM option for 2022. Had the Yankees declined it, Britton would have had the chance to opt out of his contract immediately and become a free agent.

Prior to Thursday, it would have been hard to imagine the Yankees turning down Britton’s option. But things then took a dire turn for other veteran relievers, evidenced by the Indians placing Brad Hand on outright waivers and the Braves declining the option for Darren O’Day. Hand has a $10MM option for 2020, so someone could still pick him up for that sum, but the Braves decided against paying O’Day $3.5MM. On paper, those look like reasonable salaries for Hand and O’Day.

Likewise, $14MM in ’22 comes off as acceptable for Britton, a former Oriole who has continued to serve as a quality late-game option since the Yankees acquired him from their division rivals late in 2018. Britton was effective enough in his first taste of action with the Yankees that they re-signed him to this deal – a three-year, $39MM guarantee that will turn into a four-year, $53MM pact. The move has worked out for both sides, as the 32-year-old has used a ridiculous 76.3 percent groundball rate to post a 2.14 ERA/3.62 FIP in 105 1/3 innings as a Yankee. Based on this news, Britton will continue to be a key part of their bullpen going forward.

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New York Yankees Newsstand Transactions Zach Britton

Braves Decline Darren O’Day’s Option
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Marlins Outright Pat Venditte, Mike Morin, Josh A. Smith
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46 Comments

  1. xpackyank

    5 years ago

    Woohoo! First good news of the day

    8
    Reply
    • FredMcGriff for the HOF

      5 years ago

      Yanks can spend all they want. Doesn’t guarantee anything.

      1
      Reply
      • MZ311

        5 years ago

        Smells like someone took a poop in your cereal. Bong!!!

        1
        Reply
  2. jdgoat

    5 years ago

    Hey one team with a good reliever wants to win!

    3
    Reply
    • looiebelongsinthehall

      5 years ago

      Shows the difference between the big market clubs and the rest. Normally the decision would be a no brained and it still was in my book as Britton to me is under appreciated. This off season will show the strength of the league. Unfortunately, I’m looking at most teams cutting payroll where they can.

      2
      Reply
      • jdgoat

        5 years ago

        Yep this is the year where the “big boy clubs” can really show whether they want to win or whether they just want to keep their profits up. I think the FA market will be depressed enough of buyers where one team could go out and realistically sign 3 or 4 of the top FA’s if they want to upgrade and play for a title.

        Reply
        • slider32

          5 years ago

          Yes, Yanks make 683 in revenue a year, Britton contract is peanuts.

          3
          Reply
        • deweybelongsinthehall

          5 years ago

          But they also supposedly lost the most pre-COVID anticipated revenue.

          Reply
      • Mr. E Team

        5 years ago

        Dolan in Cleveland has his own network to air games. They have plenty of money

        3
        Reply
        • RedKing22

          5 years ago

          Yeah Cleveland just being cheap as usual lol

          2
          Reply
        • dave frost nhlpa

          5 years ago

          I’ll take Lindor off their hands for Andujar.

          Reply
        • kodiak920

          5 years ago

          I am sure you would.

          1
          Reply
    • mcmillankmm

      5 years ago

      Yeah seriously….and it’s just surprising…Hand at $10M or Britton at $14M….we can argue who’s better but I don’t think Britton is $4M better

      Reply
  3. NY_Yankee

    5 years ago

    I remember Cashman praising Britton off the field ( he is the team’s player rep) as well as on it. I wonder if that played a role in the decision?

    2
    Reply
    • dobsonel

      5 years ago

      Probably did. I forgot about that quote.

      Reply
      • ctyank7

        5 years ago

        Britton is more dependable than Chapman, who clearly is on the downside of his career.

        1
        Reply
        • Perksy

          5 years ago

          And 21 is Chapman’s last year on his deal I believe.

          Reply
        • dobsonel

          5 years ago

          No there is on more after.

          Reply
        • brewpackbuckbadg

          5 years ago

          16 million in 2022

          Reply
  4. pasha2k

    5 years ago

    That’s a really good move. If it were Chapman I would say BOOOO!

    Reply
    • YankeesBleacherCreature

      5 years ago

      That’s kind of silly thinking. Having a good set-up man provides more save opportunities.

      1
      Reply
  5. LordD99

    5 years ago

    Interesting. I thought maybe they’d try to negotiate a three year deal at a lower AAV. Maybe they still will. He gives a different look that most of the pure power relievers. He should age well

    1
    Reply
    • LordD99

      5 years ago

      …meaning I believe his sinker will remain effective even with some reduced velocity.

      Reply
  6. jonnyzuck

    5 years ago

    thank goodness, hopefully they take advantage of teams like Cleveland being cheap and spend some big money this winter

    1
    Reply
  7. Rangers29

    5 years ago

    I think people have underrated Britton ever since the trade to NY. He’s still one of the best relievers in baseball, but people just don’t talk about him anymore.

    2
    Reply
    • looiebelongsinthehall

      5 years ago

      Agree Rangers but i thought he signed with NY as a free agent.

      Reply
      • Rangers29

        5 years ago

        He got to NY via trade initially then he was re-signed before 19′ if I’m not mistaken.

        8
        Reply
  8. tigers2022

    5 years ago

    Could have O’Day for 1.5

    Reply
  9. PapiElf

    5 years ago

    Is this the first option picked up?

    Reply
    • RedKing22

      5 years ago

      Starling Marte as well

      1
      Reply
  10. SalaryCapMyth

    5 years ago

    Striking contrast between the Braves, Indians and the Yankees.

    1
    Reply
  11. mlbnyyfan

    5 years ago

    14 Million is a lot of money. Yankees probably could of signed both Hand and Kluber for that. Hopefully Yankees decline Gardner option. Tauchman good enough as a 4th outfielder.

    Reply
    • TrillionaireTeamOperator

      5 years ago

      I have a feeling that’ll be a complicated discussion that isn’t purely about money and will probably become the buy out plus a much lower base salary for 2021 for him to be a platoon player. I just don’t think Gardner or the Yankees are quite ready to hang up that partnership.

      2
      Reply
      • rocky7

        5 years ago

        Hand makes $10 million/year and doubt whether Kluber would sign for $4 Million even coming off an injury year like 2020 based on what he’s done in the past so $14 million for a guy that has been a successful closer, is left-handed, and doesn’t reply miss time isn’t a lot of money.
        Beyond I agree that Gardy may not be finished in NY and Tauchman kind of came back down to earth offensively in this crazy 2020 season.

        Reply
  12. TrillionaireTeamOperator

    5 years ago

    Crazy that a reliever makes what Britton makes, but he’s been incredibly reliable for the Yankees. Dang near worth every penny. I was surprised by the price when they first signed him, especially because they’d signed Ottavino to 3 years/$27M without an option and they were comparable with very similar roles going into their Yankees tenures. I wonder what this bodes for Ottavino… unless he gives them like 2.00 or better ERA next year I think he’s gone.

    Reply
    • rocky7

      5 years ago

      Quite possible that coming off a less than stellar year, and with DJ needing a new contract and potential free agent acquisitions, that Otto may be moved in some sort of package….doubt that straight up they would get much coming off a bad year, but in a package, there are teams that would view 2020 as the odd year it has been and would bank on Otto rebounding in 2021.
      They need to consider another bullpen configuration anyway..LA and the Rays are good examples of plenty of arms that throw from different angles and planes and keep lineups off balance better than the set 7-8-9 that Boone continues to employ.

      3
      Reply
      • Ducky Buckin Fent

        5 years ago

        I think the Yanks would be better served hoping for that rebound you alluded to happen in the Bronx.
        To get rid of him – at this point – would entail attaching some pretty significant prospect capital.

        Look.
        Just today, O’Day & Romo were added to the free agent market. They’ll probably cost ~ half what Ottavino does *combined*. Either would probably yield similar production.

        Reply
  13. Mickey777

    5 years ago

    Now let’s resign DJ!!!

    8
    Reply
    • Eatdust666

      5 years ago

      Yes, they must do that, though Starting Pitching is still an obvious priority as well, because as good as Gerrit Cole is, one guy is not enough.

      Reply
  14. Ducky Buckin Fent

    5 years ago

    Good.
    I’ve certainly been paying attention to the rumblings from Cashman & Hal. Wasn’t sure this was as straightforward as it should have been.

    Add – for example – Hand & O’Day and that middle relief trust issue evaporates.

    Reply
  15. yanksno1 2

    5 years ago

    Make him the closer next year. Now don’t suck Brit.

    Reply
  16. Eatdust666

    5 years ago

    Excellent

    Reply
  17. billysbballz

    5 years ago

    Now trade Chapman

    Reply
  18. Orel Saxhiser

    5 years ago

    Major market powerhouse picks up two-year, $27 million option for a reliever. A smaller market team places a better reliever on outright waivers rather than pay him $10 million for one year. Distressing news as we enter baseball’s mid-pandemic offseason. From the looks of things, it appears megamoney teams like the Yankees and Dodgers will pick and choose the players they want while the majority of teams deal with Covid-related financial constraints. This is terrible for the sport and I hate to see it. And I say that as a fan of a megamoney team.

    1
    Reply
  19. Ducky Buckin Fent

    5 years ago

    Easy on the “better reliever” stuff, cowboy.
    That is certainly open to debate.

    1
    Reply
  20. kiwimlbfan

    5 years ago

    I’m not sure that crowds will be back next year either so be interesting to see if the rich vs poor teams divide gets bigger…

    Reply

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