JINGLE DELLS
Betances jumps to Queens in a very Merry ChristMets
At 6-foot-8, Dellin Betances doesn’t exactly fit under a Christmas tree, but the Mets gave their fans — and new manager Carlos Beltran — a big present Tuesday when they agreed to a one-year, $7.5 million deal with the former Yankees reliever. The deal could be worth $13 million with incentives.
Dellin Betances is leaving the Yankees, but he isn’t going far.
The right-hander signed a one-year deal with the Mets, the team announced Tuesday. The move is almost certainly a result of the money saved from the restructuring of Yoenis Cespedes’ contract.
Betances, a New York City native drafted by the Yankees in the eighth round of the 2006 draft out of Grand Street Campus in Brooklyn, was at times dominant in his years in The Bronx and is betting he will rebound from an injury-plagued 2019.
The one-year deal is worth a base salary of $7.5 million and includes incentives that could earn Betances $5.5 million more depending on how often he pitches.
Betances also has a $6 million player option or $3 million buyout in 2021 and a vesting player option for 2022 that could be triggered next season.
That deal no doubt is less than Betances would have received if he weren’t coming off a year in which he was sidelined first by a shoulder impingement, then a strained lat.
Betances finally made his season debut Sept. 15 and struck out both batters he faced before suffering a partially torn left Achilles after a celebratory pirouette on the mound. That ended his season and further damaged his free-agency prospects.
Instead of finding a deal in the range of what the Yankees gave Adam Ottavino last offseason — three years, $27 million — Betances now needs to prove he’s healthy.
He’ll get that chance in Queens, as the Yankees opted to not bring him back to their loaded bullpen, which still includes Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton, Tommy Kahnle, Ottavino and Chad Green, who shouldn’t be needed as an opener in 2020. Betances joins Didi Gregorius, Austin Romine — as well as the retired CC Sabathia — as longtime Yankees who will not return in 2020.
Earlier this month, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said his Mets might be done adding to their suspect bullpen, but that was before they saved a sizable amount on Cespedes’ deal when it was restructured because the slugger was in violation of his contract when he suffered an injury on his ranch last year. Cespedes’ guaranteed money could be as little as $6 million next season, instead of the original amount of $29.5 million.
Betances joins a bullpen filled with relievers looking for bounce-back seasons, including Edwin Diaz and Jeurys Familia.
He’ll also be reunited with former teammate Carlos Beltran, who is heading into his first season as Mets manager. Betances and Beltran are close and Betances, who now lives in New Jersey, wanted to remain in New York, which also played into his decision to sign with the Mets.
The 31-year-old Betances had five straight standout seasons with the Yankees from 201418 before last year’s ill-timed injury woes. Recently, he has been working with noted foot and ankle specialist Dr. Martin O’Malley to return to full strength from the Achilles injury, which did not require surgery.
“Dellin is one of the elite relievers in the game with an incredible track record of pitching on the biggest stage and in playoff games,” Van Wagenen said in a statement Tuesday. “This is a tremendously exciting gift for Mets fans this holiday season in our championship pursuit.”
Betances’ career rate of 14.6 strikeouts per nine innings is the third-highest in the modern era (minimum 200 innings).
He made clear he was pleased to be staying close to home. He had also drawn interest from the Phillies and Twins.
The Mets sent out a picture of Betances in a Mets hat and jersey in front of a Christmas tree — with Betances sporting facial hair that was banned when he was with the Yankees.
“I love New York,” Betances said in a statement. “I grew up in Manhattan. Went to high school in Brooklyn. Played minor league ball in Staten Island. Made it to the big leagues in the Bronx. Now, I’m excited to go win a World Series with the Mets in Queens. Thanks to Fred and Jeff, Brodie, and all the other Mets staff who worked so hard to make possible this next step in my New York journey. Merry ChristMets! Let’s Go METS!”
The Yankees thanked their longtime reliever on Twitter following the official announcement, writing: “Thanks for all your fire, @DBetances68! Best of luck!”
Marcus Stroman, who was traded from the Blue Jays to the Mets in July, welcomed Betances on social media Tuesday.
“Bullpen looking scary,” Stroman wrote. “I know Familia and Diaz [are] going to bounce back super strong. Betances now too! [Seth] Lugo as well! Loving this!”
NL Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso added to Stroman’s message about Betances, writing “whole squad looking scary #LFGM.”
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Mets designated infielder Sam Haggerty for assignment.