NEW YORK -- Dellin Betances and the Yankees are $2 million apart in their contract discussions, and they will have the matter settled in an arbitration hearing next month, general manager Brian Cashman said on Thursday.
The right-handed reliever is in line for a sizable raise over his league-minimum salary from a year ago. Betances filed at $5 million, and New York countered at $3 million. Cashman said they will be unable to find common ground without an arbitrator.
"We're not going to reach a resolution with Dellin," Cashman said. "The conversations we had with [Betances'] representatives were, 'If we file, we trial.' Based on all of our discussions, it was clear that the different perspectives were such a wide bridge."
The Yanks have not had a case proceed to a hearing since they defeated pitcher Chien-Ming Wang in 2008.
After turning down a $540,000 contract from the club on the advice of his agent, Jim Murray, Betances had his contract renewed at $507,500 in 2016. Betances has led all Major League relievers in strikeouts over the past three seasons (2014-16) and earned selection as an American League All-Star in each of those years.
"We'll go out and just basically have a polite discussion about market value and history of where the marketplace sits vs. attempts for new market creation," Cashman said.
In 2016, Betances went 3-6 with 12 saves in 17 chances and a 3.08 ERA in 73 appearances; over 73 innings, he permitted 25 earned runs and 28 walks while striking out 126. Betances projects to serve in an eighth-inning setup role behind closer Albertin Chapman this coming season.
"I just know that we filed what we felt was appropriate; they filed what they felt was appropriate," Cashman said. "Somebody else will make the determination. Either way, we have a good pitcher."