While all the talk has been that the Yankees are looking to trade for starting pitching they went out and made a trade that was surprising to many. They finalized a deal with the Baltimore Orioles. The Yanks acquired closer Zach Britton, trading away three pitching prospects, Dillon Tate, Cody Carroll, and Josh Rogers. Although the Yankees gave away two top-15 prospects in the organization, (Tate #9, Carroll #15) for a “rental” player, Britton will be a FA at the end of the season, I believe this was an excellent trade by Brian Cashman. Zach Britton missed the first 2 1/2 months of the season rehabbing from a torn right achilles tendon, and when he returned he struggled to get his legs under him (literally), but recently (last 8 appearances) has been his usual dominant self, throwing power sinkers that remind you of his un-hittable days, pre-injury.
I wrote a column recently stating that the Yankees need to trade for two starters, a #2 & #4 in the rotation if they want to make a serious postseason run. I still feel that way. What Brian Cashman is finding out is that although he knows the team needs another top of the rotation starter, to go along with Luis Severino, there might not be one on the market. That is why I kept saying during the offseason, now is the time to address their main priority. Brian Cashman was saying the same thing, but it didn’t happen then, and it is not easy to pull off a deal at the trade deadline. For that reason, the trade for Britton was a smart move. Why? Here’s why …
** Britton is an insurance policy if Chapman (knee) goes down to injury
** Strengthens and deepens an already dominant bullpen
** Kept Astros, Red Sox and Indians from getting him
** Traded good prospects, but were in jeopardy of losing them, to the Rule 5 draft (something I have been pointing out for quite a while)
** This move does not stop Yankees from additionally trading for a Starter (still have more than enough prospects & still have room under luxury-cap after the $4.5M for Britton)
The Yankees had the best bullpen in the MLB before this trade, now they are that much stronger by bringing in another elite closer.
CHAPMAN, BRITTON, ROBERTSON, BETANCES, GREEN, HOLDER, WARREN
Now Brian Cashman has one more move to make.. trading for a top starter. It was the Yankees top priority 6 months ago, and it is still the top priority with 6 days until the trade deadline.
