MLB scout tells what Yankees are getting in Zach Britton: 'Wow!'

by Felix Pantaleón

MLB scout loves what Zach Britton brings to the table. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman acquired Britton, a two-time All-Star, from the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 (7/24/18) in exchange for three prospects.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Here’s the first reaction an MLB scout had on Tuesday night to the breaking news that the Yankees traded for two-time All-Star reliever Zach Britton:

“Holy mackerel! If you stick Britton in the Yankees’ bullpen … wow!

Wow, indeed.

9 things to know about Yankees’ new reliever Zach Britton

In a deal that was announced a few minutes before midnight, the Yankees acquired Britton from the Baltimore Orioles for three good-but-not-great pitching prospects: Double-A starter Dillon Tate, Triple-A starter Josh Rogers and Triple-A reliever Cody Carroll.

The scout that we talked to loves Britton, who has been very hot of late after returning from offseason Achilles surgery in June.

“This guy is real good,” the scout said. “When he’s on the top of his game, it’s 95-96-mph sinkers that are almost impossible to square up when they’re down. And he’s been pitching good lately.”

A 6-foot-3 left-hander, Britton has a 1-0 record 3.45 ERA and four saves in 16 appearances this season. In his last eight outings, he’s allowed no runs on three hits with six strikeouts and four walks.

Britton is expected to replace frequent struggler Chasen Shreve as the second lefty in a Yankees’ bullpen in which the other is All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman.

Before the trade, the Yankees’ 2.75 bullpen ERA was the best in the majors, and now they have another big-time weapon joining a great unit that includes Dellin Betances and David Robertson and Chapman – a threesome that has 10 combined All-Star selections – plus three other standouts in Chad Green, Jonathan Holder and Adam Warren.

“Britton will give them even more options and they had multiple ones already in the seventh, seventh and ninth innings,” the scout said. “This adds to one best bullpens in baseball. And not only that, Britton’s left-handed. He’s a big upgrade from Shreve.

“This is a good get.”

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PROSPECT SPOTLIGHT

Tyler Nunez, a C from Lake Nona HS, is a 6'2 190lb athletic catcher who provides strength with the bat and glove. During BP, Tyler stuck with a middle of the field approach while staying on a line. He impacted the ball well with his compact and direct path, T90EV. He showed off his real athleticism behind the plate by posting a 2.04 pop time while staying around the bag on every throw. He is a good looking athletic uncommitted catcher to keep an eye on.