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Mets steal Betances from the Yankees
Brodie Van Wagenen’s shrewd move makes the Amazins’ bullpen among the league’s best
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JAN. 10-JAN. 16, 2020 31
SPORTS
BY ZACHARY GEWELB
The New York Mets made a
big splash in free agency right
before the new year, agreeing
to terms on an incentive-laden
deal that keeps Dellin Betances
in New York for at least the 2020
season.
The Yankees neglected to
bring Betances back for another
season in the Bronx after the
flame-throwing reliever endured
an injury-plagued 2019
campaign. Betances missed
most of the year with a shoulder
injury, as well as an achilles
injury that was suffered in his
short-lived return to the majors
in September.
But Mets General Manager
Brodie Van Wagenen was not
scared off by his medical reports
and pulled the trigger on
a creative contract that guarantees
Betances $10.5 million,
including a $6 million player
option for 2021 and a $3 million
buyout.
This deal is a win-win for Betances
and the Mets. If Betances
returns to form in 2020, he could
decline the option and enter
free agency after the season. If
he struggles or suffers another
injury, he can accept his option
and return for the 2021 season,
which would bring the money
to $13.5 million over the two
seasons.
The Mets could come out big
winners in this deal. Even if
Betances shines and elects free
agency after the season, chances
are that the team will have had
some modicum of success. One
could argue that perhaps the
single greatest reason why the
Mets didn’t clinch a trip to the
playoffs last season was their
shoddy bullpen.
Edwin Diaz and Jeurys Familia
both struggled mightily,
leaving the club short on reliable
arms at the end of games.
Seth Lugo emerged as a stud
in the ‘pen and Justin Wilson
had a strong season, but they
couldn’t carry the rest of the beleaguered
unit. Now, they won’t
have to.
Betances has been pretty
consistent in his big league
career and while he may go
through a rough patch or two
during the season, he is a proven
commodity — one who can
shorten and close games. He has
not demanded to be the closer,
but he can step into the role if
needed.
The Mets should enter the
season with a competition for
the closer’s role, and have Betances,
Diaz and Familia fight
for the spot. While Spring
Training results don’t guarantee
regular season success,
one of the aforementioned trio
is likely to stand out above the
others. If it’s Betances, great.
If it’s Diaz or Familia, that’s
great, too.
The Mets have depth in the
bullpen that they have not had
in a long time. And with the rotation
expected to be among the
league’s best in 2020, New York’s
bullpen depth can help carry
the team past Atlanta, Washington
and Philadelphia in the race
for the National League East
Division title.
Betances makes the Mets
better in 2020, and Van Wagenen
brought him aboard on a relatively
affordable contract. With
him on board, the pieces are
there for the Mets to have an
elite bullpen this season. Now,
they simply have to perform.
Reach editor Zachary Gewelb
by e-mail at zgewelb@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at
(718) 260–8303.
A healthy Dellin Betances should drastically improve the Mets’
bullpen in 2020. Courtesy of the New York Mets
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