Long-time big-league reliever Zack Britton has called it a career after 12 seasons in the majors. The left-hander enjoyed a number of excellent season between the Orioles and Yankees in his career, but injuries have severely limited him of late. He didn't pitch at all in the 2023 season and made just three outings for the Yankees in 2022. He has pitched just 28 innings since the 2020 season. Nonetheless, he hangs up his cleats after making 442 MLB appearances, working to a 3.13 ERA while racking up 154 saves in the process. He finished fourth in the American League Cy Young voting in 2016, when he worked to an eye-popping 0.54 ERA across 69 outings with a career-high 47 saves with Baltimore.
Zack Britton Throwing For Interested Teams Wednesday
Free-agent relief pitcher Zack Britton (shoulder) is throwing a bullpen session on Wednesday for six interested teams. It remains to be seen which six teams will be in attendance, but it was reported several weeks ago that the Los Angeles Angels had "strong interest" in the left-hander, so it's likely they are one of the six teams. Injuries have limited the 35-year-old veteran to just 25 relief appearances in the last two years, and his season ended early last year when he developed fatigue in his left shoulder. Britton has 154 career saves in 12 MLB seasons, including a league-leading 47 with the Baltimore Orioles in 2016, so he could be a useful high-leverage setup man for a team in need of bullpen help if he can stay healthy. UPDATE: The Dodgers, Angels and Rangers are viewed as three potential landing spots for Britton, while the Mets have been linked to him as well. The Cubs and Giants were two of the teams that watched Britton throw Wednesday.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Monday that the Los Angeles Angels have "strong interest" in free-agent relief pitcher Zack Britton if his price tag were to drop. The 35-year-old lefty was one of baseball's better relief pitchers from 2014-2020 with the Orioles and Yankees. However, a number of injuries limited Britton to just 19 innings pitched between the 2021-22 seasons. The Angels have already somewhat bolstered their bullpen this offseason by signing Carlos Estevez, and health is a concern for Britton. However, given his experience as a closer and track record of solid pitching, he could have a shot to see considerable save opportunities if he were to join the Angels, which would instantly make him fantasy relevant.
The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Tuesday that the New York Mets are among the teams interested in free-agent relief pitcher Zack Britton. Britton was managed by current Mets manager Buck Showalter with the Baltimore Orioles and also has a close relationship with new Mets coach Dom Chiti. Britton has been a reliable high-leverage bullpen arm throughout his career, but he pitched just two-thirds of an inning in 2022 with the Yankees, as he spent the majority of the season recovering from left elbow UCL reconstruction. As a solid left-handed arm, it makes sense that competitive teams would be interested in adding him to their bullpen, although he would likely hold little fantasy value if he did join the Mets.
Zack Britton Should Be Full-Go For Spring Training
Free-agent left-handed reliever Zack Britton (elbow) has started his normal offseason throwing program and should be full-go in spring training. Britton recovered from Tommy John surgery in time to pitch in three games for the New York Yankees to close out the regular season, but he was shut down before the playoffs with shoulder fatigue. He is seeking a one-year deal as he approaches his 35th birthday on Dec. 22, and he figures to attract interest now that he's healthy. In his first two seasons with the Yankees, the veteran southpaw had a 1.90 ERA before his elbow issues started last season.
New York Yankees reliever Zack Britton left Friday's game against the Baltimore Orioles with an apparent injury. Britton threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded and then left the mound with an athletic trainer. He walked one batter and threw nine pitches without recording an out in the outing. Look for the Yankees to update Britton's status following the game on Friday.
New York Yankees left-handed reliever Zack Britton (elbow) threw one-third of an inning on Sept. 16 for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, allowing a hit and a walk in a 16-pitch outing. He's recovering from Tommy John surgery and a procedure to have a bone chip removed from his elbow in September of last year. Manager Aaron Boone said on Sept. 13 that he's "still not sure" if Britton will return this year. It will depend on how Britton's next several outings go in the minor leagues. The 34-year-old veteran southpaw has allowed just one earned run on three hits while walking two and striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings over seven rehab outings for Single-A Tampa, Double-A Somerset and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre so far.
New York Yankees left-handed reliever Zack Britton (elbow, glute) left his second minor league rehab outing with Single-A Tampa on Saturday after throwing only 10 pitches, but he said afterward that he's not injured and that his "arm feels great." Manager Aaron Boone said the following morning that Britton is dealing with a glute issue. "He doesn't seem worried about it at all," Boone said. The next step will likely be a bullpen session in a couple of days, then an appearance in a game. The Yankees want to give Britton eight to nine minor league outings before considering activating him, and they think it's realistic to envision the southpaw as an active big-leaguer in September. The 34-year-old had Tommy John surgery and had a bone chip removed from his left elbow in September of last year, so it's unrealistic to expect much from him down the stretch.
Zack Britton To Throw Another Live Session Saturday
New York Yankees relief pitcher Zack Britton (elbow) will throw another live bullpen session on Saturday, and the next step after that is for him to go on a minor league rehab assignment. Britton is slowly progressing and has been throwing to live hitters for weeks, but he's getting closer to making his season debut in the Yankees bullpen. The 34-year-old veteran southpaw will be a nice addition for a New York relief corps that just lost closer Clay Holmes (back) to the injured list. Britton has 154 career saves and will be a nice addition when he's ready to return, but it's unlikely that he'll see many save chances to close out the 2022 season.
New York Yankees relief pitcher Zack Britton (elbow) is set to face live hitters again on Wednesday, but manager Aaron Boone cautioned that Britton is still a ways away from going on a minor league rehab assignment. The 34-year-old left-handed hurler faced hitters for the first time on Aug. 4 since undergoing surgery to fix the UCL in his left elbow last September. Barring any setbacks once he goes on a rehab assignment, there's a chance that the Yankees could have Britton in their bullpen later in the year and for a postseason run. Britton has only thrown 37 1/3 innings the last two seasons combined, but he was excellent in 2019, posting a 1.91 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, three saves and 53 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings.
