FOR YANKS, BANK IS CLOSED
The Yankees’ decision to let an arbiter decide what Dellin Betances’ salary for this coming season isn’t going to change before the Feb. 17 hearing in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Before filing at $3 million, the Yankees said if they filed they were going to trial with the three-time All-Star who requested $5 million.
The Orioles said the same when it came to their cases but that changed when right-hander Kevin Gausman and the Birds settled at $3.45 million for 2017. Gausman asked for $3.55 million and the O’s filed at $3.15 million.
The Royals planned to take a similar route with Kelvin Herrera. The right-handed reliever filed at $5.6 million and the club countered at $5.05 million. The sides settled at $5.325 million, the halfway point.
According to general manager Brian Cashman, what other clubs did doesn’t influence Betances’ case.
“Nothing has changed, we haven’t talked,’’ Cashman said Monday. “We have no intention of talking. It’s not close. Somebody else will make the decision.’’
It will be the first time since 2008 the Yankees will go to an arbitration hearing. Then it was with ChienMing Wang. After making $489,500 in 2007 when he posted a second straight 19-win season and lost twice to the Indians in the postseason, Wang requested $4.6 million and the Yankees filed at $4 million and won.
Betances has been an All-Star the past three seasons and leads all relievers with 392 strikeouts in that span. Betances, who turns 29 in March, plans on attending the hearing.
Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka checked into the minor league complex in Tampa on Monday and is slated to throw off a mound Wednesday. Last spring training the Yankees took it slow with Tanaka since he had arthroscopic surgery the previous October to remove a bone spur in his right elbow.
“Last year he had that procedure done, so he’s ahead of where he was last year,” Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild told the Associated Press on Monday in Tampa. “He’s already been on the mound a little bit. Coming in he seems to be in a good place.”
Mark Teixeira, who retired as the Yankees first baseman following last season, is expected to join ESPN as a studio analyst, according to a published report. An announcement could come as soon as Tuesday.