mollyfamwatThe New York Yankees, who are currently in first place in the American League East, have signed reliever Zack Britton to a one-year contract worth $6 million.
The yankees closer is a player who specializes in pitching the final inning of games. Zack Britton has been traded to manager Aaron Boone for two minor league prospects.
8:41 p.m. Eastern
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ESPN Writer Marly Rivera
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- Marly Rivera is an ESPNdeportes.com and ESPN.com journalist.
CHICAGO (WLS) — After his latest blown save of the season, New York Yankees reliever Zack Britton informed manager Aaron Boone that he should be removed from his present position as the team’s closer.
Britton talked with Boone after allowing White Sox All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson to smash a walk-off two-run home run in Chicago’s 9-8 victory against the Yankees in Thursday’s “Field of Dreams” game in Iowa.
Britton stated Saturday before Game 2 of the Yankees-White Sox series at Guaranteed Rate Field, “I told him I don’t deserve to be out there in the ninth inning; other people deserve it.” “I haven’t been throwing as well as I should have been in order to be on the field when the team needs to win. I told [Boone] that I wanted to pitch and that I’d be ready anytime he needed me, but I didn’t deserve to be in those circumstances.”
Britton has had four save chances and converted just one while filling in as the team’s closer and in command of the ninth inning with Aroldis Chapman on the disabled list due to left elbow discomfort. Britton’s ERA in his four outings is 8.10, with three earned runs allowed in 313 innings thrown.
In his 11 appearances in save situations this season, the left-hander has a 7.45 ERA (8 ER / 923 IP). Britton’s statistics in non-save situations aren’t any better, with a 4.50 ERA (3 ER / 6 IP) in such outings.
“Physically, I’m not where I’d want to be at this point in the season. But I need to figure out a method to get out of where I’m at physically right now, since that’s all I have “Britton said. “I just need to find out how to go back to the top level of pitching that I want to be at in the future.”
Britton has been having command problems, which he attributes to his routine being interrupted due to his absence from spring training due to left elbow surgery. The 33-year-old is still dealing with the effects of COVID-19, which caused him to lose a lot of weight over the summer.
However, when it comes to COVID-19 and the operation impacting his performance, Britton refers to them as “an excuse that’s holding me back.”
“I need to find a method to pitch from where I am. Regardless of how you’re feeling or how slow your speed is, you must get outs “he said “I’ve been around long enough to see that getting outs isn’t necessarily about having the greatest stuff, the highest velocity. It’s all about putting together pitches. And right now, I’m not doing a very good job at it. And I know I’m up to the task.”
Prior to Saturday night’s game, Boone said that he would rely on hard-throwing relievers Jonathan Loáisiga and Chad Green to close games until Chapman returns. In the ninth inning, he went to Green to close out a one-run game, but the White Sox scored a run to push the game to extra innings.
Britton entered the game in the 10th inning with the Yankees leading 7-4, but he walked two hitters and gave up a single in a third of an inning before giving way to Albert Abreu, who earned his first save of the season to keep the game 7-5.
“It’ll depend on each and every night,” Boone said of the Yankees’ closer situation, which he described as “fluid.” “However, we’ll keep trying to place Britt [Britton] in more circumstances where we believe he can shine. We need to get him back to that point the rest of the way because he’ll be crucial for us down the stretch.”
Boone also revealed that injured starter Luis Severino, who did not pitch in his first rehab appearance for Triple-A on Thursday night due to shoulder discomfort, would be evaluated further on Monday, when he will get an MRI.
“[Director of pitching] Sam Briend saw him attempting to loosen up in his catch play as he was getting ready to go on the mound,” Boone said of Severino not throwing for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in his rehab start. “Sevy didn’t actually resist Sam when he said anything to him; he simply wasn’t feeling good. They eventually pulled the plug on his making the start, which was probably a good decision.”
Boone acknowledged that the issue was “extremely worrisome,” but declined to comment on any potential delays in Severino’s anticipated comeback from Tommy John surgery.
“It’s extremely worrisome when he’s so close to rejoining us and everything is going so well. And it’s enough for him not to start, which is clearly alarming “Boone went on to say. “However, I don’t want to guess too much beyond his going to the doctor and obtaining pictures and all the information. On Monday, we should have a better picture.”
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