NEW YORK (AP) — Zack Britton will be a different pitcher for the New York Yankees this year — at least in name.
Known throughout his baseball career as Zach, the 31-year-old reliever said Thursday going forward his name should be spelled Zack.
Britton tweeted "I will be going by my legal name 'Zack' instead of my stage name 'Zach.'
He added: "everyone continue to breath normally."
Britton said of his reason for not changing the spelling earlier: "It's a long story. It never bothered me though."
NEW YORK (AP) — Zach Britton preferred to be a setup man for Aroldis Chapman on the New York Yankees rather than close for a team less likely to win.
"I had been closer and I knew that I could do that at a high level. I felt like it wasn't something I needed to prove myself," Britton said Friday after finalizing a contract that guarantees him $39 million over three seasons and could be worth $53 million for four years.
NEW YORK (AP) — Zach Britton is staying with the New York Yankees, agreeing to a $39 million, three-year contract, a deal that could be worth $53 million over four seasons, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday night because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.
NEW YORK (AP) — Neil Walker hit a three-run homer, Zach Britton started a game-ending double play on New York's third try in the ninth inning and the Yankees kept the Boston Red Sox from a bubbly celebration in the Bronx for at least another night with a 3-2 victory Tuesday.
Batting from the left side, Walker launched a no-doubter in the seventh inning off Ryan Brasier for the Yankees' third hit of the game and a 3-1 lead.
NEW YORK (AP) — Neil Walker and some teammates pulled into Yankee Stadium at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, only to turn right back around for home when New York announced a six-hour postponement.
The Yankees needed a jolt to get through the long, soggy day. Aaron Judge provided the first with his return to the lineup, and Walker helped finish the job.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — New York Yankees All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman could return next week from nearly a month on the disabled list.
Chapman has not pitched since Aug. 21 because of left knee tendinitis, which has bothered him throughout the season. The 30-year-old left-hander threw a bullpen session Wednesday and was to return to New York for treatment. Manager Aaron Boone anticipates another bullpen session this weekend, then a return.
BALTIMORE (AP) — When rookie Josh Rogers got into a jam in the fifth inning, Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter was reluctant to take him out.
He knew Rogers' parents were in the crowd for his major league debut and was hoping to end the night on a high note. So, Showalter decided to stay with the young pitcher.
Rogers recovered and won his first start, Tim Beckham hit a three-run homer and the Orioles rolled over the Toronto Blue Jays 12-5 on Tuesday night.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Those late-July trades are paying off in a big way for the New York Yankees.
Luke Voit connected in the 10th inning for his second home run of the game, and Zach Britton marked his return to Camden Yards by working the bottom half to preserve the Yankees' 7-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.
NEW YORK (AP) — When baseball stars on expiring contracts get traded in July, there's usually no need to find long-term housing.
Infielders Manny Machado, Mike Moustakas and Brian Dozier; starting pitchers Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ and Nathan Eovaldi; catcher Martin Maldonado; and closer Zach Britton are among the players dealt ahead of this week's deadline for trades without waivers. All could be eligible for free agency after the World Series.
It's been an eventful week in real-life baseball as familiar names like starting pitcher J.A. Happ and closer Zach Britton were traded by their respective teams. Trade deadlines in many season-long fantasy Baseball leagues are quickly approaching, making it important to evaluate your team's needs heading into the final months.
Believe it or not, you can still find value on your league's waiver wire. Here are a few players that can help you in the long and short term.
NEW YORK (AP) — To the New York Yankees, lefty J.A. Happ put check marks in a lot of boxes — familiar with the AL East, comfortable in the postseason and perhaps most importantly, successful against the Boston Red Sox.
Hours after ace reliever Zach Britton donned pinstripes for the first time, the Yankees also acquired the starting pitcher they sought. They got Happ from Toronto on Thursday for infielder Brandon Drury and minor league outfielder Billy McKinney.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Orioles center fielder Adam Jones isn't exactly fretting over the possibility of heading elsewhere as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline draws closer.
That's because he won't have to leave unless he wants to.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Sergio Romo relieved in the eighth inning, shifted to third base when Jonny Venters replaced him in the ninth, then struck out Brett Gardner to end the game with two on and give the Tampa Bay Rays a 3-2 win over the New York Yankees on Wednesday.
Scheduled Rays starter Nathan Eovaldi was traded to AL East-leading Boston about two hours before game time, and six pitchers combined on a seven-hitter.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — 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.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman expects injured catcher Gary Sanchez will be sidelined until late August or early September because a strained right groin.
Cashman updated Sanchez's status during a Wednesday conference call that centered on the Yankees' acquisition of reliever Zach Britton from Baltimore for three prospects late Tuesday.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Leading the Boston Red Sox by two runs entering the ninth inning, the Baltimore Orioles opted to look toward the future rather than the moment at hand.
Instead of summoning reliable closer Zach Britton, Orioles manager Buck Showalter called upon Brad Brach to seal the victory in the rain. Britton was about to be shipped out of town, so he watched from the bullpen as Baltimore squeezed past Boston 7-6 on Tuesday night.
BALTIMORE (AP) — The Yankees have acquired left-hander Zach Britton from the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles for three prospects, a trade that will bolster New York's bullpen for the stretch run.
Right-hander Dillon Tate is going to the Orioles along with left-hander Josh Rogers and right-hander Cody Carroll. The teams announced the deal Tuesday night.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — It was a good night for New York's bullpen.
First, Masahiro Tanaka gave the Yankees relievers a breather. Then the front office added reinforcements.
Tanaka pitched a three-hitter, Austin Romine drove in two runs as the replacement for again-injured catcher Gary Sanchez and the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-0 on Tuesday night.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Buried in the AL East cellar and well on their way to a second straight losing season, the Baltimore Orioles enter the so-called second half with this unavoidable realization: It's time to break up the band.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pedro Alvarez has been designated for assignment by the Baltimore Orioles, who made several moves Tuesday in an attempt to improve a team with the worst record in the big leagues.
The 31-year-old Alvarez had a .181 batting average with eight home runs and 18 RBIs in 45 games. Used mostly as a designated hitter, he was in a 1-for-18 skid since his last multihit game, on May 24.
SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Brad Brach will likely have a new role this year with the Baltimore Orioles.
In the past, the 31-year-old right-hand reliever was the setup man for Zach Britton. But with Britton starting the season on the 60-day disabled list recovering from a torn right Achilles tendon, Brach is line to become Baltimore's closer.
While manager Buck Showalter hasn't designated Brach the closer, it's expected he will do so shortly.
BALTIMORE (AP) — The Orioles agreed to a $16 million contract with third baseman Manny Machado and a $12 million deal with injured closer Zach Britton, avoiding arbitration with both stars.
Machado, who can become a free agent after this season, hit .259 with 33 homers and 95 RBIs last year, when he made $11.5 million. He has been mentioned in persistent trade rumors.
NEW YORK (AP) — Hammered by Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees all season, Baltimore manager Buck Showalter wasn't about to let that happen again.
Even if it meant bringing the potential winning run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning. Even it meant rankling his relief ace.
So Showalter intentionally walked Judge with two outs, putting two runners on base. Closer Zach Britton made the strategy work, fanning Gary Sanchez to preserve the Orioles' 6-4 win over the Yankees on Sunday.
BALTIMORE (AP) — For 60 straight appearances, Zach Britton dealt with the pleasure and pressure of fulfilling his job description when called upon to preserve a victory.
The Baltimore Orioles closer was perfect for so long, he put his name in the American League record book.
He will have to settle for that, because his run at setting the major league mark ended Wednesday amid the evening shadows of Camden Yards.
BALTIMORE (AP) — For 60 straight appearances, Zach Britton dealt with the pleasure and pressure of fulfilling his job description when called upon to preserve a victory.
The Baltimore Orioles closer was perfect for so long, he put his name in the American League record book.
He will have to settle for that, because his run at setting the major league mark ended Wednesday amid the evening shadows of Camden Yards.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Craig Gentry singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Baltimore Orioles cooled off the Kansas City Royals with a 2-1 victory Monday night.
Manny Machado had two hits and scored a run for the Orioles, who have won three straight.
Caleb Joseph got Baltimore going in the ninth with a one-out single off Joakim Soria (4-3). Ruben Tejada singled with two outs before Gentry hit a grounder up the middle that sent Joseph home from second base without a throw.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Setting the American League record for consecutive saves converted requires a remarkable display of consistency.
Patience also played a part for Zach Britton, because the Baltimore Orioles closer went more than 14 weeks this season between tying the mark and breaking it.
Britton converted his 55th straight save opportunity Sunday, blanking the Houston Astros in the ninth inning to seal Baltimore's 9-7 victory.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Setting the American League record for consecutive saves converted requires a remarkable display of consistency.
Patience also played a part for Zach Britton, because the Baltimore Orioles closer went more than 14 weeks this season between tying the mark and breaking it.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Orioles closer Zach Britton is preparing for a much longer stay on the disabled list this time after returning too quickly from a forearm injury.
Britton was initially on the DL from April 16 to May 2 with a strained left forearm. He pitched in two games, felt discomfort in his pitching arm and was put back on the 10-day disabled list on Saturday.
TORONTO (AP) — Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left forearm.
Britton says he felt pain while throwing a curveball in the ninth inning of Friday's win over the Blue Jays. Britton earned the save in that game, his fifth this season, and matched Tom Gordon by converting his 54th consecutive opportunity, the second-longest streak ever. The record belongs to Eric Gagne (84).
SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — It's been a short spring training for Zach Britton.
Early in camp, the Baltimore Orioles' left-handed reliever, who converted all 47 of his save opportunities in 2016, felt discomfort in his left oblique and was held out. Britton has said if this were the regular season he would have pitched, and that he is close to being ready to go.
NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta, Washington star Bryce Harper and Baltimore standouts Manny Machado and Zach Britton got big-money deals Friday as more than 100 major leaguers reached agreements for 2017 and left just 27 players on track for salary arbitration.
After helping lead the Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908, Arrieta agreed to a one-year deal for $15,637,500. He can become a free agent after this season.
It all started with a dubious decision that drew heavy criticism: Baltimore manager Buck Showalter left stud closer Zach Britton in the bullpen and lost the AL wild-card game at Toronto.
The next night, Giants ace Madison Bumgarner authored another October masterpiece to knock out the Mets — and the 2016 playoffs were off and running.
Seems so long ago, but it was only a month on the calendar.