The New York Yankees have been relatively quiet this offseason, though they have the money to make big acquisitions. And after a big loss in the bullpen, they ensured Zach Britton remained at least for another two years.
The New York Yankees didn’t wait long to replace reliable setup man David Robertson. Zach Britton, who spent the past two months enjoying free agency, agreed to a deal with the American League East club.
Now the record-holding reliever will remain in pinstripes for a few years. The original deal is three years for $39 million, but the team has an option after 2020. There is also an opt-out clause in case New York doesn’t exercise the option.
The Yankees acquired the southpaw last August, adding a dependable pitcher to an already-superb bullpen. Britton wasn’t his elite self, though he sported a solid 2.88 ERA and compiled eight holds in his short second-half stint.
But the left-hander has a bell-shaped resume that includes a stretch of pure dominance between 2014 and 2016.
Few relievers have bested Britton’s absurd 2016 season, one in which he boasted a .54 ERA and was perfect in 47 save opportunities. He finished fourth in the Cy Young race that year as well.
But after the prominent campaign, Britton suffered a multitude of injuries, including a scary achilles injury in late 2017. Since then, he hasn’t matched the combination of speed and pinpoint accuracy he showcased in 2016.
More from New York Yankees
- Time for the Yankees to embrace change: A call for Brian Cashman’s departure
- Stock Up, Stock Down: Braves, Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox
- New York Yankees: The harsh decline of Luis Severino
- New York Yankees: 4 players who are on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- New York Yankees: Everson Pereira awaiting call-up in Triple-A
The most concerning issue is his inaccuracy on the mound. The lefty allowed just 32 walks across 132 2/3 innings during 2015 and 2016. That number jumped to 39 across just 78 innings in the previous two years combined.
Prior to his breakout season in 2014, Britton’s walk rate mirrored what it was in 2017 and 2018, which led to an inflated WHIP and ERA. His strikeout rate is still somewhat respectable, though he will likely resort to being a contact-first pitcher soon. His velocity dropped two ticks since 2016, per FanGraphs.
Thus, New York fans should enter the 2019 season with more realistic expectations. Britton probably won’t recreate his career-best campaign in the future. Due to his severe injuries, it will be even more difficult to sustain that form of consistency across an entire 162-game season.
Nevertheless, general manager Brian Cashman has a keen eye for talent. And with the number of reliable relievers on the free agent market dwindling, Britton may be the most secure option for the Yankees.
New York relievers finished last year with the fourth-best ERA in the MLB. But they essentially finished first in the league in strikeouts, since Tampa Bay relievers acted as starters most of the season and compiled 200 more innings.
The Yankees may have lost Robertson, who has been a quietly-dominant setup man and closer throughout his career. But Britton compliments the hard-throwing Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman.
Even without Robertson, the New York Yankees bullpen can still be a scary threat to opposing hitters during the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings.