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Dodgers Rumors: 4-Time All-Star RP Dellin Betances Agrees to Minor League Contract
April 5, 2022
Free-agent relief pitcher Dellin Betances has reportedly reached an agreement to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2022 season.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported it's a minor league contract. MLB Network's Joel Sherman noted the deal includes a $2.75 million salary and $500,000 in potential performance bonuses if Betances reaches the major league roster.
Betances was one of the league's best relievers during a five-year period from 2014 through 2018 while a member of the New York Yankees.
The right-hander compiled a 2.22 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with an eye-popping 607 strikeouts 373.1 innings across 349 appearances over that span.
His career has since been derailed by shoulder injuries and declining velocity.
Betances' fastball, which peaked at a 98.3 mph average velocity in 2016 and 2017 with the Yanks, was down to 93.7 mph for the New York Mets in 2020 and 91.6 mph in his only game for the Mets last year, per FanGraphs.
He's made just 17 major league appearances over the past three years.
The 34-year-old New York City native will look to jump-start a career resurgence as part of the Dodgers' star-studded roster. It's a low-risk, high-upside addition for the World Series contenders.
Betances figures to spend a fair bit of time in the minor leagues to open 2022, especially since he signed so close to the start of the regular season. It'll be a promising sign if his velocity returns at least to the mid-90s in those initial outings in the minors.
If he eventually joins L.A., he'll provide a boost to the club's middle-inning relief corps ahead of closer Craig Kimbrel and set-up men Blake Treinen and Daniel Hudson.