ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — New York Manager Aaron Boone said newly acquired reliever Zach Britton will fill a variety of roles at the back end of the Yankees bullpen but emphasized that Aroldis Chapman’s role remains the same.
“Chappy is our closer,” Boone said before Wednesday’s game at Tampa Bay. “I’m sure there will be opportunities on a day when maybe we need to stay away from Chappy or it’s three in a row for Chappy, those kind of things. Having so many quality guys, that allows us to really preserve and protect them.”
The Yankees acquired Britton from the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles for three prospects late Tuesday, a trade expected to bolster New York’s bullpen for the stretch run.
Britton will join the Yankees for Thursday night’s home game against Kansas City.
The 30-year-old joins Chapman, David Robertson, Dellin Betances, Chasen Shreve, Chad Green, Jonathan Holder and Adam Warren in an already strong bullpen.
The Yankees are responsible for $4,387,097 of Britton’s $12 million salary this year. New York began the season with a $179 million payroll for purposes of the luxury tax, which left the team room to add salaries and remain under the $197 million threshold.
Right-hander Dillon Tate is heading to the Orioles along with left-hander Josh Rogers and right-hander Cody Carroll.
METS: Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will have surgery on both feet to relieve chronic pain in his heels and is likely to need at least eight to months to recover.
Tests on Cespedes showed bone calcifications in both the right and left heels. He was placed on the disabled list Tuesday.
The two-time All-Star had returned from the disabled list Friday after missing two months with a strained right hip flexor. But after the game, the 32-year-old said both heels have bothered him for 15 years and caused the lower-body injuries that have limited him to 119 games in 11/2 seasons since signing a four-year deal.
ORIOLES: Chris Tillman declined an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and became a free agent. The Orioles designated Tillman for assignment Friday when his minor-league rehabilitation assignment expired.
The once-reliable Tillman has seen his performance dip since a shoulder injury in 2016.
DIAMONDBACKS-RAYS: Arizona acquired right-hander Matt Andriese from Tampa Bay for minor league catcher Michael Perez and minor league righty Brian Shaffer. Andriese went 3-4 with a 4.07 ERA in 23 relief appearances and four starts for the Rays this year.
DODGERS: Andre Ethier, a two-time All-Star during a 12-year career with Los Angeles Dodgers, announced he is retiring from baseball. Ethier became a free agent last fall and remained unsigned.
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