A Birdland Salute to Zach Britton

This July’s trade season for the Orioles is one that provides some small hope for the future of the team even as they have a 29-73 record. Along with the hope for renewal comes the sad reality that this chance of getting better in the future comes at the expense of trading away the good, longtime Orioles. So it is with Zach Britton, moved on Tuesday night to the Yankees for three minor league pitchers.

Britton came to the Orioles from his high school in Texas, a third round pick all the way back in 2006. He had been around for so long that he was here even before Andy MacPhail came around. His first professional pitches were thrown for the rookie-level Bluefield Orioles, which have not…