Dillon Tate reaction after he was pulled from Thunder start Tuesday

While Tate had just returned Tuesday from the 7-Day DL, by the end of the night, the reason for Tate’s late removal became much clearer.

Just minutes before his scheduled start Tuesday night for the Thunder, Dillon Tate was scratched and replaced by Brian Keller.

While Tate had just returned Tuesday from the 7-Day DL, by the end of the night, the reason for Tate’s late removal from the lineup became much clearer.

As reported by multiple sources over the course of Trenton’s game with Hartford, Tate was to be included in the Yankees trade with the Baltimore Orioles for closer Zach Britton.

Tate is reported to be included with two former Thunder pitchers, Cody Carroll and Josh Rogers, who were both with Triple A Scranton Wilkes-Barre. No announcement was to be made Tuesday night, but the deal could concluded Wednesday.

“They just called me into the office, and told me I wouldn’t be starting tonight because of a trade potentially happening,” Tate said. “At the moment, when I was getting called into the office, I thought it was a possibility. Before that, no, I wasn’t really thinking about the whole thing.

“At the time, when you are going in there around this time of month, you realize it is a possibility.”

It is the second time that Tate has been traded in his career, after he came over August 1 to the Yankees from the Texas Rangers as part of the Carlos Beltran deal.

“I wouldn’t say I was ill equipped last time I was traded (to deal with it),” Tate said. “But I would say I am a little bit more prepared this time through, because I understand the process. I honestly didn’t have any challenges the last time, other than just being around the new atmosphere, and around different people.

“The guys welcomed me in as soon as I got traded the first time, and it only went up from there.”

Tate also spoke about the Orioles organization trading for him.

“Everybody always tries to mention that you are going to a place that you are wanted, and that is a good thing,” Tate said. “That is always a good thing to stress that, and they always try to get the person to understand that it is not a negative thing. Yes, it is a business, and it is a positive thing to look at.

“They get you to shy away from the negative stuff, which is actually pretty good. Going somewhere you are wanted is always a good thing.”

Domingo Acevedo back in Trenton after trip to major leagues

Tate was 5-2, with a 3.38 ERA this season for the Thunder. He went 7-2 at two levels last season, with a 2.81 ERA, and is 16-7 in his minor league career.

The 24-year-old former number four pick in the 2015 draft pitched well over his final 10 starts for Trenton, going 4-0 with a 2.69 ERA since a May 8 loss to Reading.

“Yeah (I feel like I have been improving),” Tate said. “But just more so battling. I feel like the use of my fastball has gone up some, which is cool to see. But I feel like the thing that I have improved on the most this year is probably just being out there grinding away, even though the outing doesn’t necessarily look great at some point and time. 

“But just flipping it around and making it go a more positive direction than what it seemed to be from the start. Just kind of that grinding aspect is something that I have gotten better at this year.”

Tate will now head home and wait to see if the trade is completed.

“The next step for me is to just wait and hear about what is actually going to happen for me personally,” Tate said. “I will continue to keep doing what I do, and play hard.”

Britton is a two-time AL All-Star, in the 2015 and 2016 seasons. He was 36-for 40 in save opportunities during the 2015 campaign, while he was even better the following campaign.

In 2016, Britton was 47-for-47 in save opportunities for the Orioles, and won the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year. He was 15-for-17 in save opportunities in 2017.  

Britton had right achilles surgery in February, and returned July 11. He has four saves in five chances this season.

Contact Sean Miller at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean