New York Yankees: Zach Britton trade is just more of Brian Cashman being brilliant

Well, for the New York Yankees, let the trading begin! During Tuesday nights game, the Yankees casually acquired Zach Britton from the rival Orioles. It is yet again a brilliant move by Brian Cashman.

The New York Yankees desperately need pitching. More specifically, they need starters. However, a relief pitcher with filthy stuff will have to do for now.

Brian Cashman knows a thing or two about making brilliant trades, and for pretty much every reason, including if Zach Britton ends up being a flop, this one is no exception.

Here is what the Yankees likely gave up and acquired:

The trade has been confirmed by multiple reports. The Yankees will reportedly pay for the remainder of Britton’s contract which is no problem for the Yankees.

Although it seems crazy to give up three prospects for one player, especially knowing the Orioles got five for Manny Machado, that is just what the Yankees had to do.

Cashman is not high on these prospects if he gave two fewer prospects away for Britton than a generational player would’ve demanded.

If you look at Britton’s career he has been struggling lately. But, the Yankees are in a situation where they need to win now and be contenders. If you look at his stats, Britton’s best seasons came when the Orioles were good and playing for the playoffs.

So he is a winning culture equals a winning player type pitcher. The best part is he just adds depth to the Yankees bullpen. They will need that in the postseason.

Also, looking more into it having more bullpen depth and reliable arms makes the need for another reliable starter seem less urgent. If they have another guy who can come in and mow them down in an inning or two, the starters have to go fewer innings.

Jack Curry, the YES Network analyst, put a good perspective on the trade on the Yankees post-game show after the game in Tampa.

He basically said, just to paraphrase him, that these prospects are almost MLB ready and could have been part of a call-up or been wasted this year.

So, that alone makes this move by Cashman smart. The Yanks just simply have an influx of prospects and none of them were going to make a huge impact any time soon. They are better off parting ways with them and risking it by going after Britton.

If the change of scenery sparks a fire under Britton the Yankees will 100%, without a doubt, become a better baseball team.

If he does not improve and his off-speed pitches end up not being as special as they use to be, it will not really affect the Yankees at all. They are already good.

What this trade also does is makes the Yankees deadline easier. They really only need one starter now and already parted ways with prospects that they know are not valuable to them.

The next move they make they will have to give up more but that makes it easier to negotiate and get the ball rolling.

Next: 5 Pitchers for Yankees to go after

Brian Cashman is bloody brilliant. That cat has been out of the bag for a while now. This was just our summer reminder. There is still a week before the trade deadline and a little longer before the waiver wire ends. Yankee fans, you are all so lucky.