New York Yankees Sign Zach Britton From Baltimore Orioles, Trade 3 Prospects

The New York Yankees officially acquired left-handed reliever Zach Britton from the Baltimore Orioles in a trade that will see them part with three prospects.

The Yankees announced the 30-year-old's arrival on Tuesday as Britton will now join the likes of Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances and David Robertson in a bullpen that leads the major leagues with a 2.75 ERA and 448 strikeouts. Britton will also be the Yankees' third reliever with 100 or more career saves along with Chapman and Robertson.

Before the move was made official, Betances spoke of his excitement at the prospect of adding another reliever to the team.

"Adding a guy like that, it's just pieces you can kinda play with," Betances said after a 4-0 win on Tampa Bay on Tuesday, according to ESPN. "You don't have to go out there and pitch three days in a row, which -- I haven't done that all year; most of us haven't really done that -- so I think adding a guy like that even gives us more help. And we'll keep feeding off that energy back down there in the bullpen."

"To add a guy of his caliber would be huge," Betances added. "We could start our own game as a bullpen."

The Yankees had to part with three prospects in order to complete the deal as the Orioles will now receive right-handers in Dillon Tate and Cody Carroll, as well as left-hander Josh Rogers in return. However, the New York side reportedly beat American League rivals in the Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros to land the former All-Star and Betances believes it's a huge acquisition.

"Those are teams that are top teams in the league," Betances explained. "And adding a guy like Britton is powerful to any bullpen, so obviously getting him on our side -- I don't know if it's done, but if it's done, it's huge for us."

Britton featured in just 16 games for the Orioles this season after returning from an Achilles injury suffered in December which required surgery during the offseason, but has recorded a 3.45 ERA in those appearances.

The Yankees will cover the year remaining on his contract, where Britton is making $12 million, and he is expected to become a free agent after this season.

"I believe he is one of the better, if not best relievers in the game," Chapman said through a translator. "Having the opportunity to add someone like that with so much talent would be very helpful to us."