NEW YORK -- Dellin Betances and the Yankees could be heading for an arbitration proceeding, as the right-handed reliever prepares to bring home a sizable raise over his league minimum salary from a year ago.
Betances was the lone holdout among the Yanks' arbitration-eligible players on Friday, standing $2 million apart in his negotiations with the club. Betances filed at $5 million, and the Yankees countered at $3 million.
New York has agreed to terms with infielder Didi Gregorius, outfielder Aaron Hicks, left-hander Tommy Layne, right-handers Michael Pineda and Adam Warren, and catcher Austin Romine on one-year, non-guaranteed contracts.
Gregorius settled for $5.1 million, Layne at $1.075 million, Pineda for $7.4 million and Romine at $805,000.
Betances and the Yankees may still come to an agreement before arbitration hearings take place in February. The Yankees 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 and earned selection as an American League All-Star in each of those years.
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. He projects to serve in an eighth-inning setup role behind closer Albertin Chapman this coming season.