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The Yankees missed out on Manny Machado, but they could still end up making a deal with the Orioles. Baltimore has moved into full rebuild mode, and they’re looking to part ways with Zach Britton. The Yankees expressed interest a few weeks ago, and now they’re said to be in the mix along with the Phillies, Astros, Red Sox, Cubs, and Giants.
Ideally, the Yankees would trade for a starting pitcher, but the current options range from mediocre to bad. It could make sense to bolster the bullpen instead. Now that Brad Hand is off the board, Britton is probably the best reliever available.
Britton, 30, missed the first part of the season due to a ruptured Achilles that he suffered during a workout in December. He returned mid-June and owns a 3.68 ERA (4.30 FIP) across 14.2 innings. It’s certainly a small sample size, but his walk rate (5.52 BB/9) is a bit alarming. The lefty could potentially be an upgrade over Chasen Shreve, which is admittedly a low bar. He is set to become a free agent in 2019, and is owed about $6 million for the remainder of this season.
Do you think the Yankees should pursue Britton?