Chris Britton

2013

There was no outlook written for Chris Britton.

2009

Spending another year cycling between Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and New York, Britton pitched well in the minors and was inconsistent in the big leagues while struggling with his command and displaying vulnerability to the long ball. At Triple-A, he's been a strikeout per inning reliever for the past two seasons, but that simply hasn't translated to sustained success. He may be running out of chances with the Yankees, but Britton could eventually put together a couple of useful seasons out of a bullpen somewhere else down the road.

2008

Britton doesn't have much more to prove at the Triple-A level, after turning in another productive year with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (58:14 K:BB, 57.2 IP) while also seeing limited duty with the Yankees. LaTroy Hawkins and Kyle Farnsworth head into spring training as the only locks for bullpen roles in front of closer Mariano Rivera, so look for Britton to compete for a permanent middle-relief role in March. Given that he appeared in 52 games with the Orioles in 2006 and was successful, he's a good bet to bolster the Yankees' pen in 2008, especially if Joba Chamberlain lands in the rotation.

2007

Britton was the most consistent reliever behind closer Chris Ray in the Baltimore bullpen in 2006, and was dealt in the offseason to the Yankees for Jaret Wright. The knocks on Britton are his conditioning (he's a hefty 6'3, 278 pounds) and his lack of a secondary pitch behind his effective low-90s fastball. Despite the criticism, he managed to put up a respectable 3.35 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 41:17 K:BB ratio in 53.2 innings for the Orioles. He also has a good minor league track record, with an excellent 1.81 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 134:29 K:BB ratio in 94.2 innings in the upper minors the past couple seasons after being converted exclusively into a reliever. If Britton's history is any indication, he should be able to pick up plenty of holds for the Yankees in 2007, but beware of the risk factors.

2006

Britton was sensational at High-A Frederick in 2005, with a 6-0 record, 1.60 ERA and an impeccable 110/23 K/BB ratio in 78.2 innings spanning 46 relief appearances. He was slightly old for the level at 22, but with the Orioles lacking experienced arms in the pen he could be on the fast-track to the majors, provided he likewise dominates Double-A and Triple-A in 2006.

2005

The 6'3" 220-pound Britton was a 2001 eighth round pick out high school by the Baltimore Orioles.