Dellin Betances loses arbitration case against Yankees

FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman reports that the Yankees have won their arbitration hearing against right-hander Dellin Betances. The 28-year-old reliever will earn $3 million in 2017 after filing at $5 million earlier this year.

It’s a hefty raise for the three-time All-Star, who completed his fifth run with the Yankees in 2016 and earned just $507,000 on the year. He plowed through the first half of the year with a 2.50 ERA, but struggled after assuming the closer’s role in August and finished the year with a 3.08 ERA, 3.5 BB/9, 15.5 SO/9 and 12 saves in 73 innings.

Still, the Yankees felt a $5 million price tag was exorbitant for a non-closer, calling such a figure “half-baked” and a “moon shot.” Club president Randy Levine addressed the hearing in a press conference on Saturday, chastising Betances’ agents for suggesting a figure that’s usually reserved for elite closers like, say, Aroldis Chapman. Via Heyman:

 

	Jon Heyman @JonHeyman
Yanks prez Randy Levine said Dellin was "used" by reps to try to "change a marketplace." called the 5M "half baked" 8:47 AM - 18 Feb 2017   Jon Heyman @JonHeyman Levine also stressed that yanks love and respect Betances as a person and player. Just saw the 5M ask as a "moon shot" 8:51 AM - 18 Feb 2017   Jon Heyman @JonHeyman Levine on Betances trying to get closer $ as setup man: "It"s like me saying i'm not the Yankees president. I'm an astronaut." 8:55 AM - 18 Feb 2017

Had Betances won his case against the team, Heyman notes, it would have been an unprecedented figure for a non-closer to receive in his first year of arbitration.