Dellin Betances missed all of the 2019 season for the New York Yankees except for one game when he faced two batters. In that outing, he apparently hurt his Achilles which put his season an end. This could have been the last time Betances pitched for the Yankees, as he’s one of the top marketed free agents right now.
Betances is a strikeout machine, fanning 607 batters in a five-year period which was more than any other reliever. He holds around a 40% strikeout rate each year. Betances also has one of the lowest average exit velocity when a batter makes contact, which is at the 93rd percentile in the Major Leagues.
The Philadephia Phillies have already expressed interest in Betances, along with backup catcher Austin Romine, since their new manager Joe Girardi has worked with both of them before. It’s likely that this is where Betances could end up if the Phillies are willing to pay up.
If Betances were to walk to another team during his free agency, the New York Yankees will have to fill his role. He was mostly used in high-leverage situations, so I could see Tommy Kahnle, Chad Green, and maybe even Ben Heller if he performs the way everyone is expecting him to.
Jonathan Loaisiga is also an interesting idea for Betance’s role. Loaisiga throws as hard as Betances, in the upper 90s, and flashes three other off-speed pitches.
If Betances were to find another team, it would definitely be hard to fill someone with that much talent’s role. He’s one of the best relievers in all of baseball and the Yankee bullpen would definitely have a setback if he were to walk.