Tate is scratched from start as trade winds blow
TRENTON » Yankees No. 9 prospect Dillon Tate was scratched from his scheduled start for the Thunder against Hartford at Arm & Hammer Park on Tuesday night as trade speculation swirled.
Tate had been sidelined since July 15 with a quad strain, but was activated from the disabled list on Tuesday and set to make the start until a change was announced in the press box five minutes prior to first pitch.
Tate, who was in the clubhouse and threw on the field pregame, is 5-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 15 starts. The 24-year-old right-hander was selected to the Eastern League AllStar Game, but had to withdraw due to the quad injury.
A former fourth-overall pick by the Rangers in 2015, Tate is no stranger to a trade. He was acquired by the Yankees in 2016 in a deal for Carlos Beltran.
The Yankees have been linked to Orioles closer Zach Britton among others, and Tate’s name has surfaced in the rumors. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported Tuesday night that the Yanks are in fact the frontrunner for Britton.
Britton has made 16 appearances, pitching to a 3.45 ERA with 13 strikeouts and 10 walks for the last-place Orioles, who have already dealt away All-Star shortstop Manny Machado to the Dodgers.
Britton, 30, had offseason surgery on his Achilles and only returned to Baltimore’s bullpen on June 11.
The left-hander saved 133 of 145 games (91.7 percent) over the last four seasons and had an ERA under 2.00 in three of them.
Thunder manager Jay Bell spoke on Monday about players dealing with trade rumors this time of year. The trade deadline is July 31.
“There’s speculation out there, there’s more rumors and guys here it and read it a lot more than I ever did,” Bell said. “With these guys they are brought up with that instant communication stuff, so I’m certain that some of them read it. Tate was mentioned, Acevedo was mentioned, Sheffield was mentioned, but I get all that second and third hand. I don’t even listen to it, and my favorite team is right here.”
Tate was replaced by Brian Keller.