TAMPA — The verdict is in:
Yankees reliever Dellin Betances took his latest salary squabble with management to baseball’s highest financial court and lost.
The Yankees prevailed Saturday in a salary-arbitration ruling in which Betances was awarded a $3 million salary for 2017.
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This is $2 million hit for Betances, who had filed at $5 million.
An arbitrator who oversaw Friday’s four-hour hearing in St. Petersburg, Fla., ultimately opted against Betances, who probably feels lowballed for as long as he’s been in the big leagues.
Betances has been an All-Star in each of his first three big-league seasons, but made the minimum every year. The Yankees offered a small raise last season, but Betances rejected it and ultimately was renewed at the minimum ($507,500).
Despite the loss, Betances’ pay will increase almost six times from what he made in 2016, but he still may hold a grudge against the organization, which had to bring up negatives against the player in the hearing.
“It’s nothing personal,” Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said earlier in the week. “We love Dellin. He knows that. He’s great for the organization. He came up through the ranks. It’s just a procedural thing.”
Betances was an excused absentee from spring training through Friday, but is expected to rejoin the Yankees for Saturday’s practice … their third since spring training began for pitchers and catchers on Thursday.
Betances, 28, owns a 2.16 career ERA overall (2011, 2013-16). He was very good again last season until struggling in the final two months at closer and finished with a 3-6 record, 3.08 ERA, 12 saves and 126 strikeouts in 73 innings over 73 games.
Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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