With the Baltimore Orioles needing to make changes for the future as they e

ndure a disastrous 2018 season Mike Piazza Jersey , reliever Zach Britton was traded to the New York Yankees, the Orioles announced.Jon Heyman of Fancred.com first reported the two teams agreed to a deal. He added that Double-A right-hander Dillon Tate is one of the pieces likely headed to Baltimore in return.Per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Orioles' return will also likely include Triple-A left-hander Josh Rogers and Triple-A reliever Cody Carroll. Sherman added that while all deals aren't done until the physicals are reviewed, the trade has been agreed upon.The Orioles already signaled they were looking ahead to 2019 and beyond when they traded Manny Machado to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 18 for a package of five prospects.Britton didn't make his 2018 debut until June 12 after rupturing his Achilles in December. The southpaw is still rounding back into shape with a 3.45 ERA, 13 strikeouts and 10 walks in 15.2 innings.Last season was a struggle for Britton because of injuries. He had two separate stints on the disabled list because of a strained left forearm, including a two-month spell from an appearance on May 4 to his return on July 5.Britton was one of the best relievers in Major League Baseball in 2016. He finished fourth in American League Cy Young voting after leading the league with 47 saves and posting a 0.54 ERA with 74 strikeouts and 38 hits allowed in 67 innings.The big key for Britton's success two years ago was his emphasized use of the cutter, as noted by ESPN's Jayson Stark in March."Britton went from featuring the sinker about 67 percent of the time in 2013 to more than 90 percent in each of the past three seasons," Stark wrote. "The results were mind-blowing. He allowed just 32 balls in the air all of the past season. Even the hitters don't understand how that can happen."Britton relied on the pitch even more in 2017, throwing it a career-high 94.7 percent of the time, per FanGraphs. He was still effective but not as dominant, with a 2.89 ERA in 37.1 innings. His strikeouts per nine innings of 7.0 was his lowest total since 2013 (4.1).The Orioles likely knew there was a chance they would part ways with Britton, who is going to be a free agent after this season. They sit in last place in the American League East, so having a reliever who has battled injuries for two years in a lame duck year doesn't do anything to help them now or in the future.Tate is the key piece in the deal from Baltimore's side. He was a first-round pick by the Texas Rangers in 2015 and has posted a 3.38 ERA in 15 starts this season. MLB.com ranked him as New York's ninth-best prospect in 2018 http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-andre-ethier-jersey , noting he could end up in the bullpen because his excellent stuff doesn't miss as many bats as it should.Despite the injury risk, the Yankees are betting on him being able to turn things around after struggling to stay on the field last season.The Yankees didn't necessarily need to upgrade their bullpen. Their current group of relievers ranks first in MLB with a 2.75 ERA, 448 strikeouts and .199 batting average against.Starting pitching seemed like a better focus for New York, but with a soft market lacking impact in that role, being able to shorten games with another power arm out of the bullpen gives manager Aaron Boone a lot of options to pick from.Britton adds a left-handed presence in the back of New York's bullpen, along with closer Aroldis Chapman. The rest of the primary relievers are all right-handers like David Robertson, Chad Green, Dellin Betances and Adam Warren.The Yankees' addition of Britton allows Boone to play matchups however he wants as his team continues its march toward the postseason. CHICAGO (AP) — An anticipated showdown between Jacob deGrom and Cole Hamels will be decided without them — and a day later, to boot.The game between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets was suspended with the score tied at 1 in the top of the 10th inning Tuesday night following a rain delay of 53 minutes.The game will resume Wednesday at noon. The finale of the three-game series, scheduled for 1:20 p.m., will begin approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of the suspended game.Tuesday’s showdown featured the marquee matchup of deGrom and Hamels — the ERA leader in the majors versus one of the hottest pitchers in the league — and didn’t disappoint.DeGrom settled for a no-decision despite throwing eight strong innings. He allowed a run and eight hits, struck out 10 and walked one, lowering his ERA to 1.68.“He continues to go out there with confidence and continues to make pitches in big situations and gives us a chance to win Chase Utley Jersey ,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said.After going the distance in his last start for Chicago’s only complete game of the season, Hamels was lifted for a pinch hitter after five scoreless innings and 93 pitches. He allowed four hits, struck out eight and walked three while lowing his ERA to 0.69 in six starts since being traded from Texas to the Cubs in late July.“To put up zeroes are great, giving the team an opportunity to win,” Hamels said, “but first and foremost you want to go deep in the ballgame.”Brandon Kintzler took over in the sixth and immediately found trouble. Todd Frazier led off with a single and Jay Bruce followed with a walk. After Kevin Plawecki grounded out to third to advance both runners, lefty Jorge De La Rosa came on and got Brandon Nimmo to pop out to shortstop.DeGrom then hit a sharp grounder to the left side. Baez fielded the ball on the outfield grass, but had no play, allowing Frazier to score and give New York a 1-0 lead.Chicago tied it in the seventh. Kyle Schwarber led off with a single and Albert Almora Jr. tried to sacrifice him to second, but bunted the ball right to deGrom, who fired to second for the force out. Pinch-hitter Ben Zobrist then hit a sharp grounder that went under the glove of Bruce at first base and rolled into right, putting runners on the corners with one out.David Bote followed with a sacrifice fly to center that tied it.SCARY FALLWhile fielding a bunt by Baez in the fourth, deGrom slipped and got up hobbling. After throwing a couple of warmup pitches Kirk Gibson Jersey , he continued without issue.“It didn’t feel great at the time,” he said. “But I was like, ‘Well, you have to go see if you can keep going.'”ROSTER MOVESThe Mets sent veteran Jose Bautista to Philadelphia in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations. Assistant GM John Ricco said the move was about allowing Bautista to go to a contender and freeing up playing time down the stretch for younger players. The 37-year-old batted .204 with nine homers in 83 games after signing a pro-rated contract for the minimum salary in May. To fill Bautista’s roster spot, OF Nimmo (bruised left index finger) was activated from the 10-day DL. He went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.The Mets also said they would not be calling up hyped slugging prospect Peter Alonso from Triple-A when rosters expand in September. Alonso entered Tuesday with 33 home runs and a minor league-leading 111 RBIs.TRAINER’S ROOMMets: C Devin Mesoraco (stiff neck) is improving and Callaway said he is hopeful Mesoraco will be ready to play on Thursday.Cubs: 3B Kris Bryant (left shoulder inflammation) continued his rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa, playing the field and going 1 for 2 with an RBI and two walks before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh. … SS Addison Russell (sprained left middle finger/right shoulder inflammation) played catch Tuesday for the first time since he was shut down on Aug. 20.UP NEXTCubs RHP Alec Mills (0-0, 1.17 ERA) makes his second start in the finale of the series Wednesday, facing LHP Jason Vargas (4-8, 6.96). Mills allowed one run and struck out eight in 5 2/3 of an inning last Friday against the Reds in his first start. Vargas is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his last two starts.