We are All Brittons

The Yankees signed Zach Britton to a three-year deal, giving them a all-closer bullpen:

The deal guarantees Britton three years and $39 million.

The agreement was confirmed by a person with direct knowledge of the deal who was not authorized to comment publicly until Britton passes a physical examination. The Yankees will have an option, after the 2020 season, to extend the deal to four years and $53 million. If they do not, Britton could then exercise an out clause.

Britton, 31, had a 2.88 earned run average in 25 games with the Yankees last season after coming to New York in late July in a trade from the Baltimore Orioles. He ruptured his Achilles’ tendon in an off-season workout in December 2017 but proved he was healthy last summer, retaining the power sinker that hitters struggle to elevate.

NYTimes.com

I assume the order will be Dellin Betances in the seventh inning, Britton in the eight inning, and Aroldis Chapman in the ninth. Of course, if one of them needs a day off or one of them gets injured, the others just move up an inning. The Yankees could also get fancy, and maybe open with Betances a couple of times a week.

It used to be that only closers received the big contracts among relief pitchers. Maybe it’s time to rename the roles? Serial closers? Late inning specialists? If openers are included, short-term specialists might be a better term. Maybe Shock Pitchers?

from baseballmusings.com http://bit.ly/2CSfUXT