Yankees Rumors: NYY Working to Extend Dellin Betances After Aaron Hicks Contract

The New York Yankees announced a seven-year extension for outfielder Aaron Hicks on Monday with a club option for the 2026 season. Jack Curry of Yes added that the deal was worth $70 million overall.

The team may not be done locking up its own players to long-term extensions, either.

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Yankees are "working on extending" relief pitcher Dellin Betances.

It's clear Betances is among the players the Yankees would like to lock up for the near future:

Betances, 30, was excellent for the Yankees in 2018, finishing 4-6 with a 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, four saves and 115 strikeouts in 66.2 innings and 66 appearances. He didn't make the AL All-Star team, however, the first time since 2013 he was left out of the exhibition. 

He combined with closer Aroldis Chapman and reliever David Robertson to give the Yankees an excellent back of the bullpen, though Robertson is now in Philadelphia.

Betances will handle the setup role for the Yankees, locking down the eighth inning, a role he's been excellent at in recent years. And given how talented New York's bullpen is overall, closing out games should again be a strength for the Yankees. 

Chapman, Betances, Adam Ottavino (likely to handle seventh innings), Zack Britton, Chad Green and Jonathan Holder highlight what is arguably the best bullpen in all of baseball. 

Keeping Betances for the foreseeable future should be a priority in New York. If he hits free agency after the 2019 season, he'll have a vibrant market for his services. Avoiding that bidding war would be wise for the Yankees.