Yankees: Hey Randy Levine, It’s time to get that spacesuit out

Back in February, the Yankees won their arbitration case against setup man Dellin Betances.  In an unprecedented move, team President Randy Levine openly criticized Betances, despite the fact that the team had won their case. The team offered three million for the season, while Betances wanted five million.

Among other choice statements, Levine said that Betances asking for elite closer money was “like me saying ‘I’m not the president of the Yankees, I’m an astronaut.'” Well, perhaps it’s time Randy Levine got the old spacesuit out and took a long vacation on Mars.

Since Aroldis Chapman went on the disabled list with rotator cuff inflammation, Betances has thrived as a closer. So, maybe it’s time to send Randy Levine into space before he has a chance to say something more idiotic.

For the past three seasons coming into 2017, Dellin Betances has been arguably the Yankees most valuable player. A setup man who can pitch multiple innings is hard to find. Because of his ability, he has been able to shorten the games he’s pitched in.

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Part of the reason he’s never been a closer is that he’s more valuable as a setup man. Nobody has been more dependable than he has.

This is why I had such an issue with Levine’s “astronaut” comment, as well as comments that the pitcher was being misled by his agents. After all, the Yankees won the arbitration case. There was no reason to gloat. Just like there was no reason for Levine to continually refer to Dellin Betances as “Dylan” throughout the hearing. Did Levine forget the name of one of his most valuable players?

Perhaps Betances’ agents wanted a little more than a setup man usually gets, but that is their job, to get their clients as much money as possible. Plus, they felt they had a unique case due to the way their client was being used out of the bullpen.

Video courtesy of the YES Network

Betances seemed content with the decision until Levine went public, causing all kinds of hard feelings from the reliever. It makes you wonder when he becomes a free agent what he’ll do. For certain, Levine’s comments will factor into that decision.

In the absence of Chapman, Betances has become a closer. One that often gets called on to pitch multiple innings. It’s not an unfamiliar sight to see him pitch parts of the eighth as well as the ninth inning. Most closers pitch an inning and no more.

Yankees: Dellin Betances intends to make Randy Levine eat crow

With Aroldis Chapman set to miss at least the next four weeks, Dellin Betances will get another crack at proving Yankees president Randy Levine wrong.

Perhaps Levine’s spacesuit cut off the circulation to his brain when he made those comments, but either way, Dellin Betances has proved he can be an elite closer. You could even see that from the moon.