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Buster Olney, ESPN Senior Writer 7y

Olney: Britton, Verlander weren't traded, so what's next?

The moment that the trade deadline passed, the context changed dramatically around some of the players discussed in talks in the weeks leading up to July 31, shifting their marketability -- some for the better, some for the worse.

So what’s next for some of the players whose names were raised before the trade deadline?

Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles

The good news is that Britton has been throwing effectively, allowing one hit and one run over his past seven outings, dating back to July 29. But the problem now for the Orioles is that their best chance to get the most in return probably went away once Baltimore kept him through the deadline, despite high interest from other teams.

Through arbitration, Britton’s salary will likely climb from $11.4 million this year to something in the range of $14 million for next year. He’ll be one of the highest-paid relievers in the sport, and that’ll affect his trade value -- as will the reality that he’ll be a free agent next fall. Teams that were interested in Britton in July -- the Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, etc. -- wanted him so that he could impact two pennant races -- 2017 and 2018. If he’s traded this winter, he can impact only one.

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