Orioles closer Zach Britton ruptures Achilles
Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton suffered a ruptured Achilles while sprinting during a workout and will undergo surgery Thursday, sidelining him for at least four months.
"It was after throwing, I was just doing my regular running," Britton said Wednesday, per MLB.com. "Felt like something punched me in the leg. I went down. It was probably the most painful thing I've ever experienced."
Britton led the American League with 47 saves in 2016 and finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting, emerging as one of the most dominant relievers in baseball. He fought injuries last season, including a strained medial collateral ligament and a left forearm strain.
"It's just going to be a real grind. I was really frustrated because I was feeling good with the forearm and the knee," Britton said. "I was about to throw bullpens. I was right where I wanted to be."
The lefty turns 30 on Dec. 22 and is a free agent after the 2018 season.
His injury is a significant loss for the Orioles regardless of how they opt to attack the 2018 season. The team is considering whether to trade franchise player Manny Machado, the third baseman who like Britton and outfielder Adam Jones will be a free agent after the season.
A Machado trade would likely signal a rebuild and make Britton a highly attractive trade chip as well. Even if the Orioles opted not to trade Machado - and a FanRag Sports report Wednesday indicated that's a stronger likelihood - they could have traded Britton to augment their starting pitching and turn to Brad Brach and Mychal Givens for late-inning relief duties.
Now, those options are scuttled. Britton, who is projected to earn about $12 million this season, could conceivably be dealt at the July non-waivers trade deadline, but Baltimore will have to build its 2018 squad without him in their plans.
"Fortunately, we have some capable people in the end of our bullpen," Orioles general manager Dan Duquette said. "We were definitely looking around this offseason for left-handers, so we will continue to look for another left-hander."
PHOTOS: Best of the 2017 World Series.