National Post (National Edition)
Rays decline options on Morton, Zunino
After falling two victories short of a World Series title, the Tampa Bay Rays began working on the 2021 roster by declining club contract options on right-hander Charlie Morton and catcher Mike Zunino.
There were no buyouts on either contract option and the duo will head into free agency without any further compensation.
Morton, who signed a two-year deal with the Rays before the 2019 season for US$30 million, was in line to make $15 million in 2021 before the club declined.
Set to turn 36 on Nov. 12, Morton was 16-6 with a 3.05 ERA in 2019, finishing third in American League Cy Young Award voting. He slipped to 2-2 with a 4.74 ERA in nine starts in 2020, but was 3-1 in four post-season starts with a 2.70 ERA. He was the losing pitcher in Game 3 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Morton is 93-89 with a 4.08 ERA in 259 appearances (258 starts) in 13 seasons with the Atlanta Braves (2008), Pittsburgh Pirates (2009-15), Philadelphia Phillies (2016), Houston Astros (2017-18) and Rays (2019-20).
Zunino, 29, was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in a trade after the 2018 season and was on consecutive oneyear deals with the Rays. His 2021 club option was worth $4.5 million.
Zunino is a career .200 hitter with 108 home runs and 283 RBIs in eight seasons with the Mariners (2013-18) and Rays (2019-20).
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Rays general manager Erik Neander has interest in bringing both players back on new deals.
YANKS PICK UP BRITTON'S OPTION, PART WAYS WITH GARDNER, HAPP
The New York Yankees picked up Zack Britton's 2022 contract option and declined the 2021 options on outfielder Brett Gardner and left-hander J.A. Happ.
Britton, a 32-year-old left-handed reliever, had a clause in his contract that required the Yankees to decide on his 2022 option right after the 2020 World Series. If the team had declined the 2022 option, Britton had the right to opt out of his deal, leaving behind his scheduled $13 million salary for 2021.
The Yankees made the official announcement on Friday, hours after Britton spilled the tea himself.
Britton went 1-2 with eight saves and a 1.89 ERA in 20 appearances for the Yankees in the 60-game 2020 schedule. He gave up two runs in 5 1/3 innings during four post-season outings.
A two-time all-star, Britton pitched for the Baltimore
Orioles from 2011-18 before joining the Yankees in a July 2018 trade.
Gardner, 37, will receive a $2.5-million buyout with the team not exercising his $10-million option. He hit .223 with a .354 on-base percentage, a .392 slugging percentage, five homers and 15 RBIs in 49 games this year. Gardner has spent his entire 13-year career with the Yankees.
Happ, 38, had a $17-million vesting option for 2021, but he didn't reach the pro-rated threshold of 10 starts to have the money guaranteed. He finished 2-2 with a 3.47 ERA in nine regular-season starts.
TIGERS NAME HINCH
AS MANAGER
The Detroit Tigers named A.J. Hinch the 39th manager in franchise history on Friday, just days after his one-year suspension ended for his role in the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal.
Hinch, 46, agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with the Tigers and replaces Ron Gardenhire, who retired in mid-September.
“I'd like to thank (owner) Chris Ilitch and (general manager) Al Avila for giving me a chance and the opportunity to get back in the dugout to lead this historic ball club,” Hinch said.
“The last year was the most difficult of my life. It gave me time to reflect, which was such a big part of this process. Everything that has transpired over the past year, personally and professionally, has put so much in perspective for me, and reinforced how important it is to do things with integrity and honesty.”
Hinch led the Astros to a World Series championship in 2017 and another World Series berth in 2019, but he was fired by the club in January after Major League Baseball's investigation into sign-stealing allegations.
MLB ruled that the Astros illegally stole signs in 2017, and it issued one-year bans for Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow. The club terminated both shortly after the punishments were announced.
The Tigers weren't dissuaded from talking to Hinch despite the stain on his resume.
“Coming into this managerial search we already knew that A.J.'s diverse baseball acumen, knowledge of analytics and passion for the game were second to none,” Avila said. “However, we also knew there were some important conversations to have about A.J.'s time in Houston. Throughout that dialogue he was clearly remorseful and used that time to reflect on the situation, and we believe he will emerge as a better leader because of it.”