There are 29 MLB teams who would like to have Zach Britton be their closer. Only the Orioles get to have him, or at least for the next two seasons. If the Orioles decided to trade Britton, bids for his services would be high based on recent trades involving relievers on or below Britton’s tier.
This fact, combined with Britton’s escalating salary estimated at over $10 million for 2017 and declining service time remaining to the Orioles, makes the idea of trading Britton a tempting one to at least consider. However, the Orioles should not trade Britton for one very simple reason.