Dellin Betances’ agent isn’t going down without a fight, according to a report from Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
Shortly after Yankees team president Randy Levine ripped Jim Murray, Betances’ agent, following the team’s salary arbitration victory over the relief pitcher Saturday morning, Murray let loose, according to the report.
Here’s what Murray reportedly said in a statement:
“With regards to Dellin, it was very ironic to hear the Yankees’ president express his love and affection when he spent the only portion of the hearing, to which he contributed to, was calling this player by the wrong first name. It is Dellin, for the record. He then proceeded to blame Dellin for the Yankees’ declining ticket sales and their lack of playoff history while trying to bully the panel, saying something to the effect that the sky will fall if they rule for the player.
And now Betances fires back
Murray also called Levine an “astronaut” and said that he was “grandstanding” and lying.
On Friday, Betances and the Yankees — represented by Levine, general manager Brian Cashman and assistant GM Jean Afterman — battled for four hours at the Vinoy Renaissance in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Friday.
Betances, in his first year of arbitration eligibility, filed for a $5 million salary in 2017. The Yankees filed at $3 million. The sides tried to strike a deal, but Betances said the Yankees wouldn’t meet him halfway. The trio of arbitrators agreed Saturday in the Yankees’ favor.
Levine held a conference call that was mostly a touchdown dance after the news.
During the call, Levine said Betances’ request was “over the top” and called him a victim of his agent.
“What his agents did was make him a victim of a attempt to change a market place in baseball that has been well established for 30, 40 years,” Levine said. “I feel bad for Dellin that he was used in that way by his agent.”
Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.
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