Head to hearing $2M apart

different perspectives and such a wide bridge, so we’ll go and basically have a polite discussion about market value and history of where the marketplace sits versus attempts for new market creation.”

Betances, who is in his first year of arbitration eligibility, has posted a 1.93 ERA in 217 appearances over the past three seasons, making the All-Star team each year. During that span, the setup man, who will be entering his age-29 season, struck out an MLB-best 392 batters in 247 innings.

In 2016, he recorded 12 saves and a 3.08 ERA in 73 innings. Betances did allow 13 runs (10 earned) in 8.1 innings in September. He was also shaky as the closer once Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman, who has since returned, were traded. But that may have been at least partly a product of him being overtaxed.

Arbitration hearings, which are set by MLB and take place in February, have had a history of being contentious between player and club. They are based on salaries of comparable players based on service time. It is also important for both sides to win in order to establish a baseline for future hearings, should they be required.

Asked if Betances wanted “closer money,” Cashman responded, “You’d have to ask them. I just know that they filed what they felt was appropriate and we filed what we felt was appropriate. And someone else will make the determination of what he makes, but either way we have a good pitcher.”

As one method of local comparison, Mets closer Jeurys Familia received $4.1 million in 2016 as a first-year arbitration-eligible player following a 2015 season in which he posted 43 saves and a 1.85 ERA. That was a settlement between player and club before a hearing.

Cashman said the sides had “limited discussions” about a multi-year deal. “That’s always something that could happen down the line, but that’s not going to happen, in this case, right now,” he said.