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Part II in a series analyzing the New York Yankees When Major League Baseball ended spring training on March 12 due to COVID-19, Zack Britton and his teammates were faced with a decision: Stay in Tampa where Hal Steinbrenner welcomed the defending AL East champions to work out at George M. Steinbrenner Field or flee …
Part II in a series analyzing the New York Yankees
When Major League Baseball ended spring training on March 12 due to COVID-19, Zack Britton and his teammates were faced with a decision: Stay in Tampa where Hal Steinbrenner welcomed the defending AL East champions to work out at George M. Steinbrenner Field or flee Florida.
A vote of the players on March 13 screamed that this bunch was thinking about winning a World Series, even when nobody knew if or when the regular season would begin.
“Guys are here to win. Guys are here to win a World Series. Whether or not we have a chance at it this year, guys want to be ready for when that opportunity comes,’’ Britton said on March 13 when the players voted unanimously to remain in Tampa. “I was happy to know we are all pulling in the same direction. We have a great clubhouse and guys want to stick it out here. They could have easily decided to go home and be with their families and they decided we want to stick together.’’
Eventually players reassessed the situation and quite a few left Florida for their homes, and Britton headed to Texas not knowing what the future held.
Like everyone connected to the game Britton, 32, is hopeful a season can be held in some form and has followed the different discussions.
Should a shortened season be held, the Yankees’ goal of winning a World Series will hinge on Britton and the rest of the bullpen being as good as they were last year.
That’s when Yankees relievers tied the Twins for the AL lead in saves with 50 in 78 chances. Aroldis Chapman led with 37 saves, but the work supplied by Adam Ottavino, Tommy Kahnle, Chad Green and Britton certainly contributed heavily.
When the left-handed Britton was acquired from the Orioles in 2018 he was less than a year into a rehab program following right Achilles surgery the previous offseason. The industry thinking was he would eventually seek a closer’s job elsewhere since that was what he did very well from 2015-17 with the Orioles.
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However, after the Yankees were eliminated by the Red Sox in the 2018 postseason, Britton hinted he might be interested in remaining in The Bronx since the chance to win was there even if Chapman signed a long-term extension to stay the closer, which he did.
Britton chose the Yankees over the Red Sox and signed a three-year, $39 million deal on January 11, 2019. The deal calls for salaries of $13 million this year and next. There is a club option for $14 million in 2022.
After rust from his operation showed in 2018, Britton was solid in 66 games a year ago when he posted a 1.91 ERA and allowed 38 hits in 61 ¹/₃ innings. In 91 career games with the Yankees, Britton has worked 86 ¹/₃ innings, allowed 56 hits, whiffed 74, walked 43 and has a 2.19 ERA.
