Report: Yankees interested in Orioles closer Zach Britton

The Yankees are interested in dealing for a lefty reliever to upgrade from Chasen Shreve.

TORONTO — While the Yankees continue along with their quest to upgrade their starting rotation, and it’s a need that is growing by the week with Sonny Gray a train wreck once again, GM Brian Cashman’s wish list also includes adding one more big piece to the best and deepest bullpen in baseball.

How early departing Hicks, Chapman were feeling after win

The one thing that the Yankees’ relief corps is missing is a stud left-hander to pitch in front of lefty closer Aroldis Chapman because Chasen Shreve sure isn’t getting the job done.

A new target has emerged, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

In addition to pursuing San Diego Padres closer Brad Hand, the Yankees “are among the teams with interest” in trading for Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton, Heyman tweeted on Saturday.

yankees are among teams with interest in Zach Britton. (also Brad Hand). others who’d make sense include: astros (had the deal which Baltimore killed last year), cubs, Indians, maybe dodgers, others.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 8, 2018

Britton, 30, led the American League with 47 saves in 2016, but the 6-foot-3, 195 pounder has been on the disabled list for most of the last two seasons.

Britton, in fact, just rejoined the Orioles on June 12 from December surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon. He’s struggled some in his first 11 outings, as he’s pitched to a 5.06 ERA. But Britton has worked three shutout innings over his last three outings since June 30, including a 1-2-3 eighth with a strikeout on Saturday in the Orioles’ 5-4 loss in Minnesota.

Britton would be a rental, as he’ll be a free agent after the season. His 2018 salary is $11 million, so a club trading for him around July 31 would be responsible for about one-third of his salary … $3.67 million.

In the midst of a nightmare season, the Orioles will take an MLB worst 24-64 record into Sunday, and by August they could be worse because management is expended to clean house. Besides Britton, superstar shortstop Manny Machado is a free-agent-to-be who likely will be moved this month.

As for the Yankees’ interest in adding a lefty, they’d surely prefer Hand over Britton, but the Padre would fetch a bigger return because he’s under control through 2021.

Hand, 28, is in the first season of a three-year, $19.75-million contract that includes a $10-million club option for a fourth season. Through Saturday,, Hand was 1-3 with a 3.05 ERA and 24 saves for the 38-53 Padres after going 3-4 with a 2.16 ERA and 21 saves in 2017.

The Yankees are looking for a lefty because Shreve has struggled so much.

He’s 2-2 with a 4.99 ERA in 34 appearances this season. On Saturday, he entered with one out and nobody on in the ninth after Chapman left with a sore knee and allowed a homer to the second batter he faced, Aledmys Diaz, before closing out an 8-5 Yankees victory.

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.