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Should O’s make Britton available?
- Updated: December 7, 2016
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Should the Orioles now trade Zach Britton? In the energized market for closers, that’s one of the questions being asked in the lobbies and suites at these Winter Meetings.
Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen may still get contracts in the $100-million neighborhood. Let’s check the options:
Dodgers They have the resources to sign either Chapman or Jansen. They also have the prospects to trade for Britton.
Marlins Team owner Jeffrey Loria has given the go-ahead to get a deal done for Jansen, according to reports. Manager Don Mattlingly loves Jansen from their time together with the Dodgers. Perfect marriage.
Nationals Having missed out on Chris Sale, will the Nationals now turn their attention to building a super bullpen?
Yankees General manager Brian Cashman has just watched the Red Sox acquire Sale, Mitch Moreland and Tyler Thornburg. Talk about a motivated shopper.
Surprise team Rangers? Astros? Cardinals? There’s almost always one or two of them out there to up-end the market.
That’s what happened on Tuesday, when the Cubs agreed to a trade that would send outfielder Jorge Soler to the Royals for closer Wade Davis. Until the moment word leaked out, the Cubs had been linked most often to Jansen or Chapman.
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As one general manager pointed out, it only takes one team to change the market for every other. It’s also obvious that teams are sorting through their options before spending that kind of money on a one-inning specialist.
This postseason changed the way teams are trying to construct their bullpen. The emphasis isn’t just on the eighth and ninth innings any longer. Teams are spending money for the earlier innings, too.
There’s also some reluctance …
