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.
xpackyank
Woohoo! First good news of the day
FredMcGriff for the HOF
Yanks can spend all they want. Doesn’t guarantee anything.
MZ311
Smells like someone took a poop in your cereal. Bong!!!
jdgoat
Hey one team with a good reliever wants to win!
looiebelongsinthehall
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.
jdgoat
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.
slider32
Yes, Yanks make 683 in revenue a year, Britton contract is peanuts.
deweybelongsinthehall
But they also supposedly lost the most pre-COVID anticipated revenue.
geg42
Dolan in Cleveland has his own network to air games. They have plenty of money
RedKing22
Yeah Cleveland just being cheap as usual lol
dave frost nhlpa
I’ll take Lindor off their hands for Andujar.
kodiak920
I am sure you would.
mcmillankmm
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
NY_Yankee
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?
dobsonel
Probably did. I forgot about that quote.
ctyank7
Britton is more dependable than Chapman, who clearly is on the downside of his career.
Perksy
And 21 is Chapman’s last year on his deal I believe.
dobsonel
No there is on more after.
brewpackbuckbadg
16 million in 2022
pasha2k
That’s a really good move. If it were Chapman I would say BOOOO!
YankeesBleacherCreature
That’s kind of silly thinking. Having a good set-up man provides more save opportunities.
LordD99
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
LordD99
…meaning I believe his sinker will remain effective even with some reduced velocity.
jonnyzuck
thank goodness, hopefully they take advantage of teams like Cleveland being cheap and spend some big money this winter
Rangers29
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.
looiebelongsinthehall
Agree Rangers but i thought he signed with NY as a free agent.
Rangers29
He got to NY via trade initially then he was re-signed before 19′ if I’m not mistaken.
tigers2022
Could have O’Day for 1.5
PapiElf
Is this the first option picked up?
RedKing22
Starling Marte as well
SalaryCapMyth
Striking contrast between the Braves, Indians and the Yankees.
mlbnyyfan
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.
TrillionaireTeamOperator
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.
rocky7
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.
TrillionaireTeamOperator
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.
rocky7
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.
Ducky Buckin Fent
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.
Mickey777
Now let’s resign DJ!!!
Eatdust666
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.
Ducky Buckin Fent
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.
yanksno1 2
Make him the closer next year. Now don’t suck Brit.
Eatdust666
Excellent
billysbballz
Now trade Chapman
Orel Saxhiser
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.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Easy on the “better reliever” stuff, cowboy.
That is certainly open to debate.
kiwimlbfan
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…