Dellin Betances has been open about what the Yankees meant to him, and he etched one last farewell on Tuesday as a new chapter of his MLB career begins with the Mets in 2020.
Ahead of Spring Training for the Mets, who have pitchers and catchers reporting next Monday, Betances took to Instagram and thanked the Yankees for the past 14 years in the organization. The flame-throwing RHP signed his one-year contract worth $10.5 million with the Mets after he appeared in the big leagues over nine seasons for the Yankees from 2011-19.
Working back from an injury-decimated 2019 season with the Yankees, where he pitched in one game Sept. 15 before suffering a partially torn left Achilles, Betances looks forward to his fresh start on the Mets but shared a final "thank you" note.
"I just wanted to say Thank you to the New York Yankees for allowing me to live out my dream as a professional baseball player," Betances said Tuesday in the caption of an Instagram post. "The past 14 years of my career have created memories and milestones that I will never forget. I want to thank all my teammates, coaches and staff members -- you are family, and I love you guys. To the Yankees fans, thank you for all your support throughout the year, you made me a better player and a better competitor and I will always be grateful for my time as a New York Yankee."
Betances published a clip from the 2018 AL Wild Card game against the Oakland A's, which the Yankees won 7-2 at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 3. In the video, with runners on first and second, Betances strikes out LF/DH Khris Davis to end the top of the fifth inning and hold the Yankees' 2-0 lead.
With the injury-plagued 2019 as the most recent season for Betances, that was one of his final memories with the Yankees. Over eight years, including four straight All-Star appearances from 2014-17, Betances went 21-22 with a 2.36 ERA and 621 strikeouts to 170 walks in 381 2/3 innings pitched.