TAMPA — Sure, the Yankees were thrilled to introduce Masahiro Tanaka in The Bronx Tuesday, but it’s been well documented that wasn’t the original plan.
Instead, they certainly would have preferred to have someone such as Dellin Betances or Manny Banuelos ready to step into the spotlight this season: A pair of young arms who wouldn’t cost $175 million.
But Banuelos had Tommy John surgery and Betances, who has been converted to a reliever and finished 2013 in the majors, is simply trying to win a spot in the bullpen.
“I think this year is the first year that I come in and I have a chance to make the team,” the 25-year-old Betances said at the Yankees minor league complex.
“I feel confident,” he said. “Last year, I came in having a bad year the year before. And the years before, I was kind of younger and needed more time.”
And despite the fact he still has an option and can be sent back to the minors, time may be running out for the 6-foot-8 Betances to start producing in the majors.
The Yankees had high hopes for Betances when he came out of Brooklyn’s Grand Street Campus in 2006, but control problems have always held him back.
In 2012, Betances bottomed out, finishing with a 6.44 ERA in 26 combined starts with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Trenton. After more problems a year ago, he showed signs of improvement once he switched to the pen.
Following an ugly outing in his return to the majors in August, Betances managed to finish the season with solid performances in all but one of five September appearances.
“I feel like there’s a lot of opportunity this year,” Betances said. “I know a lot of guys are eager to get across the street [to major league camp]. I’m excited for this year. I feel good about myself after last year and I’ll be ready to compete for one of those spots.”
Still, it’s hardly where he was projected when the Yankees drafted him in 2006.
“If they want me to start, I’ll start, but right now the bullpen is where they want me and I’m happy with that,” Betances said.
And while Betances knows his only shot of being in the majors anytime soon is as a reliever, he hasn’t forgotten the days when he was one of the Killer B’s.
“To me, I’m still here,” Betances said. “This year will be exciting and Manny’s coming back. He’s healthy now. … So hopefully this will be a good year and we’ll both be up there, if not right away, then at some point during the year.”
To make that happen, Betances is fine-tuning his fastball/slider repertoire and said he would add a changeup if he ends up as the long reliever.
With so much turnover in the bullpen, Betances wouldn’t predict where he might land.
“Mo’s not here,” Betances said of the retired Mariano Rivera. “Joba [Chamberlain] was here last year, [Boone] Logan was here last year. There’s a lot of young guys who are going to be competing for spots.”
And if Betances doesn’t perform, he could wind up back in the minors because of the remaining option — although he doesn’t believe that will have any impact on how he approaches the season
“I see it as nothing was going to be handed to me, so you’ve got to work hard to earn that spot,” Betances said. “If I do what I have to do, the option doesn’t mean anything and then I have to perform up there [in the majors].”