The Mets have interest in signing free agent reliever Dellin Betances. Here's the latest...
Dec. 24, 1:37 PM:
The Mets have agreed to terms with Dellin Betances, as first reported by SNY's Andy Martino. The right-hander will head to Queens after being drafted by the Yankees in 2006 and making his major league debut in 2011, where he's spent his entire MLB career until now.
Betances will join the Mets on a one-year deal, with a player option for 2021.
Betances missed nearly the entire 2019 season with a right shoulder impingement, returning for just one game on Sept. 15, striking out both batters he faced. But he suffered a partially torn Achilles tendon during the appearance, ending his season nearly as soon as it began.
"I love New York," Betances said in a statement. "I grew up in Manhattan. Went to high school in Brooklyn. Played minor league ball in Staten Island. Made it to the big leagues in the Bronx. Now, I'm excited to go win a World Series with the Mets in Queens. Thanks to Fred and Jeff, Brodie, and all the other Mets staff who worked so hard to make possible this next step in my New York journey. Merry ChristMets! Let's Go METS!"
Dec. 18, 1:26 PM:
MetsBlog's Matt Cerrone has some new information on why there could be so many conflicting reports on Betances. The Mets certainly still want him, but seem to have a fixed offer in place.
Dec. 17, 1:56 PM:
While the Mets and Phillies have been the teams most-recently linked to Betances, the Dodgers could still be lingering as a threat.
Even though they recently signed Blake Treinen to a one-year deal worth $10 million, that signing "doesn't necessarily" take them out on Betances, reports Jon Heyman of the MLB Network. Betances is reportedly seeking a one-year deal for roughly the same amount Treinen received.
Aside from the Mets, Phillies, and Dodgers, the Yankees are also a team to watch on Betances. But Jack Curry of YES reported on Monday night that a reunion with the Yanks did not seem likely.
Dec. 17, 8:10 AM:
It is still "not sounding like" the Mets will be the team that ultimately signs Betances, reports SNY's Andy Martino.
Martino adds that while the above could change, the word early Tuesday morning is that Betances is unlikely to wind up with the Mets.
Betances -- coming off a season where he made only one appearance due to injury -- is looking for a one-year deal for around $10 million, reports Jon Heyman of the MLB Network.
If the Mets do not sign Betances, they could conceivably turn their attention toward free agent relievers Daniel Hudson or Will Harris, though neither of them has nearly the upside of Betances.
There is also the potential that the Mets could add a reliever via trade, and they have had discussions with the Rangers and other teams about dealing for a closer, according to MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone.
Dec. 16, 10:48 PM:
The Mets are one of the top contenders to land Dellin Betances, according to YES Network's Jack Curry.
Curry says that Betances is unlikely to return to the Yankees, and that the two teams he keeps hearing as the most likely to sign him are the Mets and the Phillies.
While the buzz at the Winter Meetings was that the Mets were going to be out on Betances, SNY's Andy Martino reports that the settlement on Yoenis Cespedes' contract has given the team more money to spend while still staying clear of the luxury tax threshold.
Dec. 12, 1:30 PM:
The Dodgers are among the "most aggressive" teams when it comes to Betances, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Los Angeles signed Blake Treinen on Wednesday.
While the Mets have been linked to Betances, GM Brodie Van Wagenen suggested on Thursday that his plan might not include adding another reliever.
"We can bolster our bullpen by having (Seth) Lugo and (Robert) Gsellman go back to the bullpen along with (Brad) Brach if that's how it shakes out in spring training," Van Wagenen said. "It's a good position to be in. We'll sort of adjust on the fly in terms of what other opportunities come in. We have the ability to do wants now that many of our needs are filled."
Dec. 11, 11:28 PM:
Michael Wacha's deal with the Mets could take them out of the running for Dellin Betances.
According to SNY's Andy Martino, having Wacha in the rotation means that Seth Lugo will be staying in his high-leverage spot in the bullpen, and the Mets may now be less likely to spend on a big-name reliever like Betances.
"Connecting a few dots here and seeing now Lugo is back as that high leverage reliever piece, I think that's what the Wacha move helps the Mets do," Martino said on SNY's Mets Hot Stove on Wednesday. "And part of those dots that I'm connecting is seeing that the relievers that we've been reporting on this week, the Mets are not getting close with.
"We've talked a lot about Dellin Betances. Well look, my understanding right now is that there's actually nothing really doing there anymore with the Mets and Dellin Betances, at least for now and possibly for good. Daniel Hudson is another guy they were linked to. I'm not getting a lot of energy there, so that tells you I think they'll sign some relievers, but at that level and as close as they are to the luxury tax, with the Wacha deal, they're like three million or so from the luxury tax, because you'd have to plan on it being 10 million for the number because it's at the end of the year.
"So, I think you're going to see Lugo back in the bullpen. A lot of talk about (Edwin) Diaz and his potential and probably a little bit less talk about the free agents. I know that's not what fans want to hear, but that that's my information."
Dec. 11, 4:58 PM:
"All indications" are that Betances will not be returning to the Yankees, reports Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News, who added that the Yanks are focused on smaller moves after agreeing to a massive deal with Gerrit Cole.
On Tuesday, MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone cited rival executives who believed Betances would ultimately choose between the Mets and Yankees.
Dec. 11, 3:34 PM:
The Dodgers have interest in signing Betances, reports Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times.
According to Castillo, the Dodgers are also interested in Blake Treinen, who is also a potential Mets target.
Dec. 11, 2:43 PM:
Betances is being "talked about" by the Twins, reports Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News.
The Twins, who won 101 games in 2019 and were knocked out by the Yankees in the ALDS, have been linked to some of the biggest names on the free agent market.
Dec. 10, 2:40 PM
Rival executives told MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone that they expect the Betances sweepstakes will ultimately come down to him choosing between the Mets and returning to the Yankees.
Dec. 10, 11:45 AM
The Mets think "they have ability" to add pitching help this offseason, which could mean a free agent reliever such as Betances perhaps another reliever in addition to a Betances-type, and a back of the rotation starting pitcher, reports SNY's Andy Martino.
In order to sign Betances and/or acquire another relatively expensive player, the Mets might have to first clear salary by trading a player such as Jed Lowrie or Jeurys Famila, according to Martino.
