Once again, Peter Abraham of LoHud has the latest:
Just received confirmation, the Yankees have traded Jaret Wright and $4 million to Baltimore for RHP Chris Britton.
Wright's contract option comes due today. The Yankees had two choices: Pay him $7 million or a $3 million buyout. So they send $4 million and the contract to Baltimore and get a serviceable reliever in return.
So for two players the Yankees didn't especially want or need - Sheffield and Wright - Cashman picked up four hard-throwing young right-handers. That's a pretty good weekend for Cashman, who is en route to Florida for the GM Meetings that start tomorrow.
Britton turns 24 in December and is listed in the Baltimore media guide as being 6-foot-3, 278 pounds. In 53.2 big-league innings last seasons, he allowed 46 hits and struck out 41. He is a former eighth-round pick out of Plantation High in Florida.
Until this season, he had never pitched above Class A ball. He had a great first half but a 5.14 ERA after the break.
I wouldn't say Britton is a lock to make the team. But he's certainly a better option than most of the young relievers in the organization now.
Wright could pitch well for Baltimore now that he is reunited with Leo Mazzone. But he did little to convince the Yankees that he was a starter who could be trusted. Beyond that, paying a No. 5 starter $7 million makes no sense with guys like Karstens and Rasner around.
Here is Chris Britton's profile via Yankees.com.
I'm still surprised that Cashman would trade away a cheap insurance policy like Jaret Wright when they have a clear deficiency in arms. However, this could very a very clear indication that the youngers like Rasner and Karstens are going to get their shot at the rotation next season.