Astros: Anthony Rizzo and 3 other Yankees free agents worth signing
By Tim Boyle
2) Astros could strike gold by signing Yankees free agent Zack Britton
The Astros will be in the market for a left-handed reliever this offseason. Zack Britton, who faced nine batters but logged only 0.2 innings of work for the Yankees last year, is a forgotten member of this winter’s free agent class outside of New York. Up until and through 2020, Britton was one of baseball’s best relievers.
Injuries then took their toll. Britton appeared in only 18.1 innings in 2021 and the few licks he got in during 2022. Britton is definitely a risk. Nearing 35 years on this planet, he’s certainly someone whose best days could be in the past.
MLB learned an important lesson last year when the Chicago Cubs took a chance on David Robertson. Robertson was excellent as their closer. The Philadelphia Phillies ended up riding with him into the World Series. Robertson’s situation wasn’t quite the same as Britton’s, yet it was similar enough.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Astros to take some risks this offseason. Someone like Britton, signed to a “prove it” deal, could be a high-reward signing. Their biggest competitor, aside from the Yankees, could be the non-contenders who would look to maybe flip him at the trade deadline for prospects.
Britton may end up offering the Astros nothing. He could also end up being the guy who throws the final strike in next year’s ALCS.