Yankees reliever Dellin Betances received the salary he wanted _ albeit a year later _ so there will be no contentious arbitration hearing in 2018. An industry source on Friday confirmed that the Yankees and Betances agreed to a $5.1 million salary for the '18 season, a $2.1 million raise over 2017.
Both sides were angered last year after Betances asked for $5 million, lost in arbitration and had to accept the club's proposal of $3 million. Yankees president Randy Levine had said the figure submitted by Betances' representative "had no bearing in reality" and that Betances was not entitled to closer's money. Agent Jim Murray shot back, saying he and the pitcher were being "bullied."
Betances made the All-Star team for the fourth straight year but finished poorly. He was 3-6 with a 2.87 ERA, 44 walks and 100 strikeouts in 592/3 innings.
Betances, 29, again will be arbitration-eligible after this season and can become a free agent in 2020. His name has surfaced in some trade scenarios as the Yankees mull over the configuration of their loaded bullpen. They also are said to be exploring ways of lowering the payroll.
The Yankees also reached agreements with Didi Gregorius ($8.25 million), Sonny Gray ($6.5 million), Adam Warren ($3.315 million), Austin Romine ($1.1 million) and Chasen Shreve ($825,000). Their payroll is at $177 million, $20 million below the luxury-tax threshold.
Clubs and arbitration-eligible players had to agree to a contract by 1 p.m. Friday to avoid having to exchange salary figures for a potential arbitration hearing.
