7:52am: Betances is hoping to secure a one-year deal in the $10MM range, Heyman tweets. That’s the same guarantee Blake Treinen just landed with the Dodgers, although while Treinen had a down season in 2019, he was at least healthy and pitched 58 2/3 innings in 2019.
Dec. 17, 5:55am: The Mets are now considered unlikely to sign Betances, Heyman tweets. SNY’s Andy Martino hears similarly, tweeting that it doesn’t sound as though the Mets will be the team to land the right-hander.
Dec. 16: A report at the end of November indicated the Phillies were among the teams chasing free-agent reliever Dellin Betances. That remains the case, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network (by way of Jack Curry of the YES Network), as he relays that they and the NL East rival Mets are “prominent” in the Betances sweepstakes.
Heading to Philadelphia would reunite Betances with skipper Joe Girardi, who managed the hard-throwing right-hander with the Yankees from 2011-17. Betances had some of the best years of his outstanding career during that stretch, but he’s now coming off an injury-ravaged season in which he barely pitched. Shoulder, lat and Achilles problems limited the 31-year-old Betances to a total of two-thirds of an inning in 2019, leaving him as a strong candidate to sign a short-term deal this winter. MLBTR predicts he’ll ink a one-year, $7MM contract, which should be a reasonable gamble for the Phillies or any other team in need of bullpen help.
A $7MM price tag for a reliever fresh off a limited campaign may have looked somewhat steep for the Mets earlier in the offseason, but they’ve come into some money in recent days with the reworking of outfielder Yoenis Cespedes’ contract. Cespedes, who went through two injury-wrecked years from 2018-19, had been slated to earn $29.5MM next season. However, Cespedes and the Mets just agreed to an amended contract that will guarantee him a far more team-friendly sum (less than $10MM) in 2020.
The Mets have more to work with as a result of Cespedes’ pay cut, and a source told Ken Davidoff of the New York Post that they’re “nowhere near done” after signing starters Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha. Perhaps they’ll use some of the money that had been earmarked for Cespedes on Betances, who – at least on paper – would vastly improve the back end of a bullpen that was a frequent issue last season. Notably, new Mets manager Carlos Beltran was once teammates with Betances as a Yankee.
You really can’t go wrong with signing this man a one-year deal, can you?
The more bidding there is, the higher the price, the higher the risk.
Thanks Captain O.
First you have to pass the ball and then you can open it up and read what’s inside it.
The greater the suffering, the greater the peace.
The farther the distance the longer the journey.
What is this exercise? It’s fun.
Nothing difficult is ever easy.
It’s hard to walk ’em off on the road.
depending on your luxury tax position
Last year we wasted on Familia and Lowrie but now won’t take a gamble on Betanes this is so wrong on many issues . This guy is a upgrade to Familia any way you look at it Why are the Tampons still trying to run this team when they want to get out and still prolong the fan base missery
Betances was never really an option because he’ll get $8m-$10m and the Mets only shop in the scratch and dent section of free agency…..Cespedes, Cano, Lowrie, Frazier, etc. Betances at $5m-$6m won’t happen and even if he would take that money, more teams would be in at that pricepoint…..and the Mets would then lose out to those big spending A’s and KC clubs.
Cohen cannot take over soon enough because the Wilpons continue to make bad financial decisions because of…..earlier bad financial decisions. That Cespedes contract money….every other year it went right back into their pockets. Wright’s insurance money….same thing for multiple years. Lowrie insurance money….(?)…likely no different. So now that they have Cespedes for $10m-$20m less, why would they magically actually spend that money? They will pinch every penny until the bitter end because that is what they have always done.
lol at saying Cano and Cespedes are scratch and dent free agents
Phillies are a Yankees OLD TIMERS team.
Whatever trash the Yanks don’t want anymore, down the freeway to Philly.
Hey idiot, give it a break. Not one person cares what you think except YOU.
Second that!
Forest Cobras are a trash snake. They’re an old timer snake.
you can’t get from NY to Philly via “the freeway”…gotta take the NJ Turnpike for $11.25…unfortunately, we don’t have “freeways” in Jersey…
that being said, WGAF?
I think the “free” in “freeway” mainly refers to being “free of intersections”, although sometimes people do mean it to include tolls as well. Nevertheless, the main joke is that nobody uses the word “freeway” in the northeast. The poster marked himself as a troll.
I spent a 16 year stretch in California.
Go back LOSER! I’m sure there’s room on the sidewalk for you!
he must be from California if he says freeway
I remember when Hoskins, Realmuto, Harper, Kingery, Nola, Segura, Wheeler, Arrieta, Efli and Haseley played for the Yankees….
“Freeway” lol
When the Yankees were done with A.J. Burnett the Phillies signed him.
When Gerrit Cole’s nine year deal is up the Phillies will sign him to a one year deal.
I think you mean Mets. The Mets are all about those over the hill FA signings. Mo Vaughn, Adrian Gonzalaz, Robbie Alomar, etc. The Phillies have yet to live down that Ryan Howard contract though….
5 million with incentives to make 7-10 million seems more likely but the risk/reward is what you are looking for but coming off a season where he could never get any innings is always a risk. Wonder if he’s throwing now & at what speed?
Sure you can. f the guy is still hurt and misses the majority of the year, you pretty much just burned 10 mil.
You could say the same for those SP recovering from TJ surgery, no? 2-year deal by giving them $8+mm (like Michael Pineda, Garett Richards, to name a few)
look at what happened in 2019. so yes, you could go wrong.
Phillies are relying on most of their bullpen coming back from injuries,and none of them have Betances’ track record.Hurt this past year,but was 1 of the best setup guys in the game,for the 5 years prior to it.Highest era was 3.08,was consistently in the 2s,averaged around 6 hits and 15 ks per 9,and made 4 all-star squads.And he did it in New York,during playoff runs.Cant get scared because David Robertson got hurt.
This would only be true if the number of roster spots wasn’t limited. Anyone you sign to fill one of them is someone else you can’t sign to fill one of them. It’s called an opportunity cost (the cost of what you don’t do). Then if he doesn’t perform up to expectations the team has to decide when or whether to cut their losses by releasing him or hang onto the investment and hope it recovers in value. That’s a sunk cost problem. Not that these risks aren’t worth taking but they are still definable risks.
One need only look at the Phillies free agent RP signings over the last few years to see why you’ll get a lot of blowback from Phillies fans.
Will Smith signed 3 for $39m. No, I don’t think any team can go wrong signing him for $10m. Let’s go tigers
Give him 1 year 10 million and see what he can do, can’t go wrong with a 1 year deal.
As for why so much, look what LA gave Blake Treinen.
Only thing that might drop his price slightly lower than Treinen would be availability. I think teams will doubt he’ll be fully healthy for the whole season and that might drive his price a little below Treinen. Especially coming off of the injuries he had last season he’s a bit more risky of a bet. All that said I think he goes 7-10 mil range and I’d love to seen him come to LA with Treinen.
Treinen had injuries last year too and when he was “available,” as you say, he flat out sucked. I would say that’s at least as big of a risk. That he sucks really bad.
If he’s bad I guess. But I’d take him on a one year deal for sure
Mets should go 1 and $10-12 mill on him. He should be a good deal!
Why not 1 for $10 with a team option for 2 years 24 tacked on
He seems to only want one year as a prove it.
12 seems way too high.
Why have teams not locked him up on a one year deal? Major rebound year in 2020.
He is an injury risk now. He could be great or he could only pitch in 5 innings. $10 million is a lot for a question mark and a wasted roster spot for a competing team. Especially when you can get a reliable Craig Stammen for 1/4 the cost.
Stammen will be more than 1/4 the cost but you’re right about the injury risk. There are still some decent relievers available who did not spend almost all of 2019 on the DL
Provided he has remained healthy through the winter, he’s a solid flyer at $5M or $6M for 1 year. Or 2 years for $10M-$12M. Teams could do a lot worse with that money.
He’s going to get more than 5-6. Brett in Oakland got 10.
He’ll get $10-12 million for one year. He’s been one of the most dominant relievers in baseball and if healthy, could be very valuable.
I see him in Philly
I see him in NY
Eh I’d be more interested if his FIP was better in 2019…
Does anyone else remember the days when we would eye test players instead of tracking them with advanced metrics like FIP? Boy are those days gone.
FIP is an advanced metric?
more advanced than traditional stats
Not really, often the eye test left me frustrated when “a player didn’t perform to what my eyes told me.” At least now advanced metrics provide some additional information as to why the numbers don’t always live up to expectations.
If watching a player leaves you frustrated but the stats say he’s actually ok, will you still be frustrated watching the player going forward? I’d say yes.
Of course. But, with more numbers to provide answers, it is less frustrating. At least to me
He was hurt in 2019. I’m much more interested in his ENTIRE CAREER.
The joke is that he struck out every batter he faced this year – therefore he had the best possible FIP. however I agree that his career is impressive.
Subtle humor doesn’t work in the comments section…but nicely played!
Boston could make use of him. He struck out every batter he faced last year.
I agree Fun!
Philly has been killing it this off season. I’ve liked all there moves so far.
They are gambling on guys staying healthy. They have no natural 3b or CF. If one player gets hurt they are absolutely screwed, just like last year.
They actually have 3 cfs in Haseley,Herrera,and Quinn.Also still have Kingery beyond those 3,although he’ll likely be in the infield,and Girardi has said already he wants to keep him at 1 position.They also brought in Harrison as infield depth,and the offseason is still in progress.And their top prospect is a 3b.
Actually, I think the Braves have been doing more relevant moves. Biggest move in the division is still Nats re-signing Strasburg.
“Biggest move in the division is still Nats ….”
Letting Anthony Rendon walk.
Rendon is gone from the NL Least
ForestCobraAL
“Biggest move in the division is still Nats re-signing Strasburg.”
What part of that full sentence, not out of context, don’t you understand?
Would definitely do like a 1 year deal worth $10 million and an option that includes like a $2 million dollar buyout. That’d guarantee him at least $12 million, but a team could have him for two years, $20 million
I would go out on a gamble and offer 3 years but smaller aav, maybe 3 for 15-18
Smile.
The reason he wants a one year deal is so that he can get a higher AAV and longer contract after. He’s betting on himself.
Lol, there are 2 teams players you stay away from, spankees and tampa.
If cashman doesn’t want him back, there is a good reason.
Dont believe me? Then tell me what good player the spankees or Tampa has given up in the last 20 years with all their trades?
Ill wait while you ponder that.
Sonny Gray.
soon to be Clint Frazier
We gave up German Marquez, but otherwise you’re correct
Yankees never had German Marquez, they did have Jeff Marquez though. Yankees did let Jose Quintana go in the Rule 5 back around 2011/2012.
He meant the Rays.
I did not realize the Rays had him either. But, I see he was part of the Dickerson deal. Rough one for the Rays.
2016- The Yankees traded Chapman and Andrew Miller
Delmon Young.
The same Yankees that gave away Caleb Smith for nothing?
Betances remind me of Meat from Bull Durham, “million dollar arm and a 5 cent head”… watch Kevin Pillar steal 2nd, 3rd & home on him
This would be a risky signing for the Phillies since they got bit from the last few veteran arms they signed for the pen. That being said they need an upgrade in the bullpen so hopefully this works out on a one year deal if they can get him.
No thanks too much!
If the Yankees didn’t screw him over in arb a couple years back we would still have him
Its been reported multiple outlets Cespedes salary is 14.3 million, not less then 10 million..
An American League team should jump at that
Mets would move him
He’d be a great acquisition for the Phillies provided he’s healthy. Girardi seems intent on nabbing all the ex-Yankees and Mets players he can. Going to be interesting watching the NL East again this year.
Btw, sucks for those who are Mets fans. The owners are cheap and crap. But I wont shed any tears over them
If Jeter wants to put the uniform back on he can play SS for the Phillies. All his old teammates will be there for him and his old skipper in the dugout.
I hope Betances comes to the LA Dodgers, which would be a great place to rebuild his value. Could get long term deal with Dodgers next year when he healthy.
Come on. He’s from the city. Just resign with the Yankees.
Los Angeles is a city.
Just how eager does anyone think Mets ownership is willing to spend any of the Cespedes money on anything slightly risky?
Do you really think they’re gonna use it on the team. They’re pocketing the money for personal use.
Why. Are the Mets now unlikely to sign him is he asking for more than $1 mill. Cheapoooo’s they just saved on Cespedes
Believe me every real Mets fan knows what putzes we have with the Tamponzis . even selling the team they want to twist the knife in our backs for next 5 years
I think the move the Mets should make is trading Lowrie for Soria with the Mets kicking in about $1M since their contracts for this year are comparable. A’s want him back. Mets don’t want to go into luxury tax territory. Something tells me, knowing the Mets’ luck, the reworked contract will not affect lux tax calculations. I know that seems ridiculous because it’s not the same as insurance covering a deal, but this is the Mets we’re talking about.
Not sure how to value him. A lot of the good RP have been swiped up, and their deals slightly high, but in general appropriate. He’s been injured, and although he’s really good an expensive 1 year deal for him isn’t the same as others considering you really don’t know what your gonna get from him. Interesting situation brewing up here.
I don’t see how the risk of signing Betances is any greater than signing Treinen after the tremendously crappy year he had.
Betances Knebel Hader back end is pretty good. Id love him on a one year deal.
He should be reminded of the game musical chairs.$10m for a guy who was injured? He might find himself without a chair.
With the contracts that have been given out this off season, its not that far fetched this will happen.
You’re nuts. If not for the Yankees having the best bullpen maybe ever he’d of had a good number of saves on his resume which would have gotten him paid. What an archaic system, that’s easy to manipulate and treats every 7th inning reliever the same.
$10MM for Treinen after the year he had? Don’t see how Betances is riskier. Treinen was injured too AND crappy.
Betances got a bad break from arbitration. I wonder how long it will take for arbitration to quit caring as much about saves.
Dodgers 2 year deal guarantee, with incentives to be a good deal for both. Dodgers would have the depth to be careful with him physically. go Dodgers
He would be a great addition to the Nats lineup.
Betances a great addition the Nats lineup? I didn’t know that Betances was a position player to help the Nats lineup.
Can he rake enough to replace Rendon’s bat?
Give Betances a Incentive contract. Something like $5M guaranteed with the following incentives:
$500k ($1.5M total) each for ERA lower than a 2.50, 2.20, 2.00
$500k (1.5M total) each for strikeouts 80, 95, 110.
$500k ($2M total) each for games played 40, 50, 60, 70
Hey, Treinen wasn’t held to that standard…
Only way he should make anywhere near 10M is through aggressive incentives tied to health. He faced 2 hitters last year.
As a lifelong Yankees fan, I wanted the Yankees to pick him back up for a year. But with these teams passing on him, it makes me wonder if there is something medically wrong with him that they’re becoming aware of during their contacts. Although 10 million is a lot, he’s had a fairly dominant run, so I’d think someone would’ve committed. I like the mentions of incentives tied to health in the above posts are a great way to go.
Treinen was on the IL multiple times last year with shoulder and back issues, pitched injured most of the year and finally was shut down….he definitely was not healthy all year…
AND he sucked big time.
1M if he makes less than 40 appearances. 5M if he gives you more than 40. 10M if gives you more than 60 with ERA less than 3.00. If he is truly healthy and ready to pitch, he and his agent would take it.
If he goes to Philly he can bunk with David Robertson in the mash tent
Let someone other then my team sign him for a season, then reassess next year… shoulder injuries are tough to come back from.
Don’t go to sleep on the Marlins on potentially signing him for a year. They have a closer position to offer if he’s trying to build value and a bigger paycheck. They may be spending a little bit to keep MLBPA off of their backs.
He’s familiar with Gary Denbo and of course Jeter.
That would be good for both parties I think.
1 year/$10MM is something the Yankees should be all over
The fact they’re not makes me wonder whether they know something we don’t about his injuries and health.
Frankly I think the Cole deal and the Gardner deal have a lot to do with not going $10MM in on Betances.
Yeah, a very good point on the $10mm. Maybe he’s just that set in what he wants to make and won’t budge…
Mets should just give him 1yr-$10M.. Betances is a NY native and IMO would accept an opportunity to continue to pitch in his home state.
IMO, he will accept an opportunity to play anywhere that gives him the best paycheck and opportunity to make more.
His a risk. But I’d love to have those 100k’s a year.
For a guy coming off injuries 10 mil is asking alot — I think 3 mil with incentives to make say 12 mil is ok — this way he wouldnt be a slacker and collect a paycheck and go out and prove he is worth 10-12 mil — but he wont do that because he is greedy — MLB should do contracts like the NFL
well looks as though the Mets are done shopping — why the Mets didnt sign Billy Hamilton for CF has got me guessing — he could have batted leadoff — steals 50 bags — and is an elite defender– trade Nimmo who is worthless and you can still keep Jake