Saturday, January 5, 2019



The Yankees are closing in on a three year deal with free agent reliever Zach Britton, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. ESPN's Jeff Passen adds that Britton's contract with the Yankees would be for three years guaranteed, with a fourth-year club option after the second year, which would also give the lefty the chance to opt-out afterwards if that option isn't picked up.

This news comes just a couple of years after the Yankees lost out on re-signing David Robertson, seeing the right-hander leave New York for a second time to sign a two year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.

According to Rosenthal, the option year would bring the total compensation for Britton north of $50 million.

Britton had a solid second half in 2018 for the Yankees after being acquired in July from the Baltimore Orioles, about a month after making his season debut because of a right Achilles injury he suffered in the offseason.

The 31-year-old was 2-0 with seven saves and 34 strikeouts over 40.2 innings in 41 relief appearances last season for both the Yankees and Orioles.