Yankees blank Rays as deal for Zach Britton was being finalized | Rapid reaction

The Yankees shut out the Rays 4-0 on Tuesday night while GM Brian Cashman was acquiring two-time All-Star reliever Zach Britton from the Baltimore Orioles.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — What a crazy visit to Tampa Bay it’s been this week for the Yankees, and catcher Gary Sanchez’ laziness, fibbing and surprise return to the disabled list was just a sidebar by Tuesday night.

This Sanchez saga went on the backburner because the Yankees reportedly are on the verge of announcing another tremendous weapon will be joining their already-great bullpen.

Yankees trade for Britton | What it means

During the Yankees’ 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, one fueled by Masahiro Tanaka pitching a three-hitter and going the distance, news broke that GM Brian Cashman had acquired Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton.

The trade was announced shortly before midnight.

The price for Britton was three minor-league pitchers, but the Yankees will be protecting all of their very best prospects in giving up Triple-A left-hander Josh Rogers, Triple-A reliever Cody Carroll and Double-A righty Dillon Tate.

According to MLB Pipeline, Tate was rated as the Yankees’ ninth-best prospect, Carroll was ranked 15th and Rogers didn’t make the top 30.

Making this deal even better for the Yankees is they’re keeping Britton away from two American League that were trying hard to get him, the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros.

Britton, 30, has a 1-0 record, 3.45 ERA and four saves in 16 games since returning from offseason Achilles surgery in June. The power sinker-baller has worked eight shutout innings over his last eight outings, allowing just three hits while striking out six and walking four.

Britton has some great seasons on his resume, as he pitched to a 1.65 ERA with 37 saves in 2014, a 1.92 ERA and 36 saves in 2015 and an 0.54 ERA and an AL-best 47 saves in 2016. 

The deal was finalized a week before the July 31 trade deadline and may or may not lead to Cashman accomplishing his No. 1 goal of adding a frontline starter pitcher.

“I don’t know if there’s one out there unless the Giants trade us Madison Bumgarner, so we’re looking to strengthen up our bullpen even more,” a team source told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. 

Britton probably will take Chasen Shreve’s spot as the second lefty along with closer Aroldis Chapman.

As for the game, besides Tanaka having his best game of the season, Brandon Drury suffered a right hand contusion when he was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning, he left one batter later.

Drury’s injury came on the eve of rookie second baseman Gleyber Torres’s scheduled return from the disabled list on Wednesday.

If Drury doesn’t go on the DL, and the Yankee were hopeful that won’t have to happen, they’ll probably either option him or infielder Tyler Wade back to Triple-A, or designate  infielder Neil Walker for assignment.

Earlier Tuesday, Sanchez was national news because of his lack of hustle in Monday night’s 7-6 loss to the Rays. He was heavily criticized by fans and media for not running hard to chase a first-inning passed ball, which allowed a run to score from second base, and for not running hard to first base on a game-ending, bases-loaded loaded groundball in which he was thrown out after Aaron Hicks beat a throw to second with all-out hustle.

Amid speculation on how rookie manager Aaron Boone would handle this laziness on Tuesday, Sanchez surprisingly was put on the disabled list with a reaggravated right groin strain.

This DL stint began just four days after he was activated from a right groin strain … and it began the day after Sanchez had this flare-up from the Yankees and then lied in his post-game presser by saying he was fine.

But now Britton is the big story, and it’ll be interesting to see if he joins the Yankees for Wednesday’s series finale against the Rays, which has a 12:10 p.m., start time. The Orioles had a home game on Tuesday night against the Red Sox at Oriole Park.

NOTABLE

— Torres played his third and final rehab game for high A Tampa on Tuesday night and was 0-for-2 with a walk DHing in the Tarpons’ 8-3 win over Bradenton. He’s expected to be in the Yankees’ starting lineup on Wednesday.

— Tanaka began his start by retiring 12 in a row before C.J. Cron led off the Rays fifth with a single to center.

— Tanaka threw 105 pitches in his first complete game since 2017 and sixth in 121 career starts.

LOOKING AHEAD

Wednesday: Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays, 12:10 p.m., YES. RHP Luis Cessa (1-1, 3.00) vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (3-4, 4.26).

Thursday: Kansas City Royals at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., WPIX. RHP Jakob Junis (5-10, 5.03) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (7-7, 5.34).

Friday: Kansas City Royals at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., WPIX. RHP Brad Keller (3-4, 3.20) vs. LHP CC Sabathia (6-4, 3.51).

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