The Mets have been without reliever Dellin Betances since he went on the injured list Aug. 30 with right lat tightness, and it doesn’t appear a return is imminent. Manager Luis Rojas said Wednesday that Betances’ “timeline is uncertain,” Tim Britton of The Athletic relays.
With little time left in the regular season and the 21-27 Mets looking unlikely to make the playoffs, it’s possible Betances has thrown his last pitch of 2020. Either way, this will go down as the second straight injury-shortened year for Betances, a former Yankee who missed almost all of 2019 with shoulder and Achilles problems. The four-time All-Star then signed for a guaranteed $10.5MM with the Mets last winter, but thanks largely to a couple of rough outings, Betances hasn’t put up his usual numbers.
Before going on the IL, the 32-year-old Betances pitched to a 6.10 ERA/4.27 FIP with by far a career-worst 6.97 (he owns a lifetime 14.44 K/9) and 6.1 BB/9 in 10 1/3 innings. Along the way, Betances averaged 93.3 mph on his fastball – well below his personal mean of 97.2.
The deal Betances inked with the Mets includes options for 2021 and ’22. For next season, he’ll be able to return to the club on a $6MM player option. Considering how this year has gone for him, it seems unlikely Betances will reject that sum in favor of a $3MM buyout.
At one point, Dellin Betances was as close to unhittable as any pitcher I’ve ever seen.
I mean, who else *ever* has thrown a 90 mph knuckle curve. Mercy.
A few years ago his arm slot (tunneling) from fastball to curve started to become more pronounced. This was the first sign of his declining dominance. Hope he can bounce back.
Tell ya though. Lots of innings (mostly of the high leverage variety) on that arm. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we never see that overpowering version again.
Best wishes on a good recovery, Big Fella.
He’s done in a Mets uniform. Buy out his option and look elsewhere this offseason for setup help.
I couldn’t agree more. Simply awful.
It’s a player option they can’t buy him out unless he rejects the option.
I think he meant just cut him and eat the 6mil.
Not sure why they’d do that without at least seeing if he is any better.next year. It’s one thing if there was a cheap team buyout but if they’re on the hook for the whole $6m, they may as well try to get something for their money.
I understand the Betances signing or the Diaz/Cano trade didn’t go as planned, but I don’t think that should shy the Mets away from trading for a relief ace like Hader. I know Stearns supposedly has an extremely high price on him, but I think the inclusion of Smith could really change things.
I think the inclusion of Dom Smith would help a deal go through, since I don’t think the Brewers want to go through a lengthy rebuild with one of the best hitters just recently signed to a team-friendly deal. Unless Yelich’s deal was secretly so they could trade him and get some really good prospects in return. I don’t think Dom Smith is enough to get Hader on his own, but probably does help a deal get done.
Zero chance Mets would entertain dealing Dom Smith.
If anything, Alonso will be the one traded.
Smith is more valuable than Hader. Why the heck would they trade an emerging, everyday superstar? I wouldn’t do Hader for Smith straight up.
Hader has a proven track record while Smith does not. Does this season mean Dom Smith is actually breaking out and proving himself? Maybe. Is this “breakout” a freak consequence of this bizarre season? Maybe. Hader has been what he has been for a while, Smith is showing something new. Does Dom Smith come back next year and prove that this is a real breakout? Maybe. Does Hader come back next year and continue to prove that he is the single most valuable (and versatile) reliever in baseball? Most likely.
You don’t trade an everyday player of Dom’s pedigree and track record (albeit not as long as Hader’s) for a reliever. You just don’t.
I couldn’t agree more. Simply awful.
Bring him back at a discount, if no one else bites
It’s a player option. Unless he rejects it (unlikely given this year’s performance), the price is set.