Brian Cashman was full of praise for Zack Britton. Not just because the Yankees' lefty set-up man was dominant on the field this season, but as the Yankees players' union rep, Cashman said Britton was great to deal with as the coronavirus pandemic-shortened season threw curveball after curveball at the Yankees.
"I want to really give a major shout out to Zack Britton," the Yankees GM said, "who obviously had the higher level of responsibilities as our player rep and the go between with our, ownership and front office on behalf of his union and his teammates and in a time that obviously was really a difficult position I'm sure to be in."
The Yankees are going to have to very seriously, and very quickly, weigh Britton's value. He has a unique clause in his contract where the Yankees must pick up a $14 million option for the 2022 season within five days after this year's World Series finishes. If they don't, Britton will have the option to opt out of his 2021 deal with the Yanks worth $13 million.
"In Zack's case, we have a club option for a two year extension and then if that doesn't get made, then he has a player option in the one year that he has the right to," Cashman said, "so the first decision comes to us within a few days after the World Series, but again we have not had our important meetings with our owner, as well as ... our other meetings with our pro scouting department and the analytics side and so all that will be happening in due time. Clearly a decision like this is something that has to happen really soon.
He had a great year. He was fantastic in every way, shape or form in terms of performance, in terms of obviously the leadership he provided for his players on behalf of his union."
It makes sense the Yankees would pick up the option. He pitched to a 1.89 ERA in 19 innings over 20 appearances. While Aroldis Chapman sat out with COVID-19, Britton went 8-for-8 in save opportunities.
