The Yankees have yet to agree to terms with right-handed reliever Dellin Betances, according to FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman. The two are reportedly $2 million apart from agreeing on a sum; Betances filed for $5 million, while the Yankees offered $3 million.
Despite some late-season bumps in the road, Betances finished 2016 with a 3.08 ERA and 1.78 FIP through 73 innings, leading all major-league relievers in strikeouts (126) for the third consecutive season. This is the first year in which the 28-year-old has been eligible for arbitration after earning a league-minimum salary last season.
According to the reported totals from MLB Trade Rumors, approximately 36 major leaguers have yet to reconcile salary figures for 2017. Of the seven Yankees who are arbitration-eligible this year, Betances is the only player who has not settled with the club. If the two sides cannot reach an agreement in the next few weeks, an arbitration hearing will take place in February, though MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch points out that the Yankees have not gone through proceedings with a player since 2008.
