Union turns page on Levine-Betances spat

The head of the baseball players’ union says “that page has been turned” in the spat regarding New York Yankees President Randy Levine and what he said about reliever Dellin Betances’ agents.

The head of the baseball players’ union says “that page has been turned” in the spat regarding New York Yankees President Randy Levine and what he said about reliever Dellin Betances’ agents.

Levine had called Betances a victim of “overthe-top demands based on very little sense of reality” by his representatives at an arbitration hearing on Feb 18. The Yankees beat Betances in the case, and he will be paid $3 million rather than his $5 million request.

“Dellin is focused in on the season, we’re focused in on the season and look forward to have him continue to do what he’s always done, which has been a tremendous contributor to his club and winning on the field,” union chief Tony Clark said Sunday.

Clark talked with Yankees players as part of his annual visit to spring training camps in Florida and Arizona.

Levine, one day after the decision was announced, said he felt bad that Betances “was used that way by his agents.”

Clark said he has not talked with Levine about the matter.

Betances figures to be primarily a setup man again following Aroldis Chapman’s return to the Yankees. New York gave Chapman an $86 million, five-year contract, a record for a relief pitcher.

Conforto’s case

New York Mets manager Terry Collins has to figure out this spring which Michael Conforto he has — the outfielder who was a rookie sensation in 2015 or the one who was demoted in the middle of a terrible slump last year.

Conforto’s five-hit weekend was a nice start.

Conforto homered for the second time in exhibition play and also singled in a 5-2 win over Detroit, making him 5 for 7 so far.

Collins believes he knows the answer to his Conforto conundrum, saying he has faith in the 2014 first-round selection.

“He’s too good a player and has too high a ceiling to continue to struggle. I just think he’s going to bounce back and have the kind of year we expect him to have,” Collins stated.

Conforto started making his case to make the team against the Boston Red Sox on Friday in Fort Myers in the spring opener. He singled to left against lefthander Henry Owens in his first at-bat then homered to right off righty Kyle Kendrick.

He continued his quick start on Saturday with an RBI single in his lone plate appearance, and homered off Detroit’s Daniel Stumpf on Sunday.

This spring is a pivotal one for a player who was an instant hit and fan favorite in the summer of 2015 in the Mets’ march to the World Series.

The Mets promoted Conforto after 2 ½ months in the minors in 2015, and the Oregon State standout hit .270 with 12 homers and 26 RBIs. He was even better in the World Series against Kansas City, batting .333 and hitting a pair of homers.

“It’s a good start. It’s definitely how you want to start things off here. There’s a lot of work still to be done, and I’m excited about more opportunities to solidify some things,” said Conforto, who has dropped nearly 10 pounds and reluctantly gave up pizza and pasta.

Rays top Red Sox

At Port Charlotte, Florida, Chris Archer made his spring debut for the Rays and allowed one hit over two scoreless innings.

Tampa Bay’s Joe McCarthy homered, doubled and drove in three runs.

Boston starter Hector Velazquez gave up one run in two innings.

Yanks drop Blue Jays

At Tampa, Florida, Starlin Castro hit a three-run homer for the Yankees and prospect Billy McKinney also connected.

New York right-hander Luis Severino pitched two hitless innings

Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a two-run homer for Toronto. Brett Oberholtzer allowed three runs in two innings.