Free agent reliever Zack Britton held a throwing session for interested teams last week, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The veteran southpaw is looking to rebound after a mostly lost final season with the Yankees.
Britton was one of the sport’s best late-game weapons during his peak with the Orioles and Yankees. His 2016 season with Baltimore — 67 innings with a 0.54 ERA and an 80% ground-ball percentage — was among the best ever by a reliever. While Britton unsurprisingly never replicated that kind of historic pace, he remained a dominant force through 2020. Between moving to the bullpen full-time in 2014 and the end of the shortened season, he worked to a 1.84 ERA with an eye-popping 76.2% grounder rate over a seven-year stretch.
Things began to go downhill in 2021, however. Britton battled injuries and was limited to 18 1/3 innings across 22 appearances. He managed a career-worst 5.89 ERA with nearly as many walks as strikeouts. That September, Britton went for surgery to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow. While he was under the knife, doctors examined his UCL and determined the ligament also needed repair. That was a far more consequential development, with Tommy John surgery keeping him out for almost all of the 2022 campaign.
Britton did manage to return to the mound at the tail end of last season. He was clearly not back in form. He walked six of the nine batters he faced while recording just two outs in three games. His trademark sinker averaged 92.6 MPH, well below its 94-95 MPH range from 2018-20. The Yankees promptly shut him back down for the season, calling the issue shoulder fatigue.
Needless to say, that wasn’t the kind of platform year the 35-year-old had in mind. A signing team would be rolling the dice on a bounceback, hopeful of installing an elite grounder specialist into high-leverage work. Britton’s recent injury issues put him behind the market’s top group of free agent left-handed relievers like Andrew Chafin, Matt Moore and Will Smith — all of whom somewhat surprisingly remain unsigned.
The Mets are the only team that has been publicly tied to Britton thus far in the offseason. New York skipper Buck Showalter is obviously plenty familiar with the veteran hurler from their time in Baltimore. Heyman again notes the Mets are involved in the market for Britton in their search for a left-handed bullpen arm, one that also has Chafin on their radar.
Idc about his K-BB. Texas needs some real BP help. I do wonder how he only gave up 1 run on 6 walks. He must have had great luck those 3 outings.
Yeah, it would be more concerning if he was a strikeout pitcher, but he’s a prototypical sinker-baller whose strength lies in getting contact, just on the ground. Now if his fly ball rate skyrocketed or his HR rate went abnormally high, that would be a red flag.
Britton faced 9 hitters over his 3 outings (0.2 innings pitched) walking 6 of the 9. In one outing the next pitcher in allowed one of the runners inherited from Britton to score. Britton’s “luck” was the next pitcher being able to do what he couldn’t and record outs.
If I’m choosing between the 4 available lefties i might do 2 years on Chafin, 1 year on each of Moore or Smith and a minor league deal with an invite to spring training for Britton
Max: 3/21 for Chafin, 1 year 5 for Moore (BB rate and just 1 recent successful year), 2/12 with a 6 MM option for the 3rd for Hand, or this guy for < 1MM for no more than 3 years if at min
Will Smith max 2/11
I can see that. I would do that for Chafin for sure if I were the Reds, but apparently they will no longer give out multi year deals. I would think that’s a bargain for a guy who don’t give up taters, needed in that ballpark.
Actually I think it’s a bargain for all, but then again I like a strong bullpen.
Given Britton’s low HR totals, he’d be an interesting piece for the RS, but we already have 13 pitchers on the 40-man that should make the opening day roster.
Depth
Add Brad Hand to the list of unsigned lefty relievers.
There are indeed quite a few good lefties on the BP market. Maybe, they are seeking Will Smith-type deals of 3/39 or 40 million.
Indeed there are. Enough that a team should go grab one. Maybe yours will but I doubt mine will.
I keep hearing that my Cubs are looking to sign one, but Hoyer traditionally doesn’t give out multi-year deals for relievers.
YOUR Cubs?
@realsox
Oh please, people say that a team is ours all the time. Its extremely common, fans of every team do that. It’s a way for fans to connect with the club. Don’t act surprised and heckle the guy for that.
If he’s healthy and velo is close to normal, I’d like to see the jays sign him. Need another lefty besides Mayza.
Dodgers need one of them
The Dodgers have Vesia, Ferguson, Bruihl, and Adam Kolarek all from the left side. Though admittedly it would be fun to see Will Smith throw to Will Smith in a game
Britton probably walked 3 of the 6 stand-in batters he faced, ruptured his achilles and then demanded a $10 million deal lol
This guy is finished. He robbed the Yankees of tens of millions the past 2 years. I hope he has to sign with the LI Ducks.
He robbed the Yankeea?
The Yankees traded for him
SMH
He had Tommy John… Every player that had TJ surgery robbed their respective team?
How about 2019? Did he rob them that season.
Hello All: Classic1985 is a “classic” example of why we need the downvote back. A completely stupid comment based in factless subjectivity, and obviously a poorly educated, jaded mindset.
MUTE is nice, but honestly, we all like to view the trainwreck aftermath.
His self Up-vote was a nice touch.
Britton pitched 6.2 innings in MiLB games before coming back and struck out 7 and walked 2 during those outings. I know it’s just MiLB batters, but I imagine the guy might still have some left in the tank, it just didn’t show in the 9 batters he faced at the end of the season.
Cards should give this guy a look, or maybe throw hand a bone. With cabrera really regressing last year and getting into it with the manager one game when he was taken out, cards could use another lefty in the pen. Would rather the cards take a chance on a Britton over your normal long shots like wittgren, van hagen, and brooks type pitchers
My guess is he returns to the Yankees. It’s his preference and they could use a lefty. There’s also an opening as German, who was targeted to start the year in the pen, is now back in the rotation with Montas injured.
Unknown, though, if the Yankees have interest.
I’m all for the Yankees bringing him back. I remember hearing at the end of the season, Britton and the Yankees were working on a deal to come back but apparently nothing came of it.
No love for Moore or Chafin? I’d much rather have one of them as opposed to Britton or Hand.
I say let Britton and German have a Dunkirk like showdown and see who backs up first!!
I’d suggest that Ty France and Derek Holland would like a shot at the dance as well, but that leaves no allies for German.
Clark Schmidt would beg to differ!!
Tigers still need a lefty. Right now it’s Alexander and Shreve from the left side. I just don’t want them moving Wentz to the bullpen.