Dellin Betances is apparently the reason for empty seats at Yankee Stadium.
After a routine arbitration hearing turned vehemently bitter between the two sides Saturday, Jim Murray, Betances' agent, revealed that part of the Yankees' negotiation tactics during the process involved boldly blaming the reliever for declining ticket sales while simultaneously mispronouncing his name.
"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," Murray told FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. "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."
Ultimately, arbitration lawyers elected to rule in favor of the club, awarding Betances a $3-million salary as opposed to the $5 million he asked for.
The back-and-forth negotiations didn't end there, however, as Yankees president Randy Levine then ripped the pitcher's agents for their "half-baked" salary demands.