When word that Steve Cohen was getting closer to buying the Mets, the teams’ fans weren’t the only ones hoping the transaction would be completed and a new era ushered into Citi Field.
“There was a lot of excitement at the end of last year. Players were excited about Cohen being a longtime Met fan,’’ reliever Dellin Betances told The Post on Tuesday at a Players Alliance event across the street from Yankee Stadium at Mullaly Park that was hosted by CC Sabathia.
Betances, whose first year in Queens after eight in The Bronx didn’t go smoothly, is looking to bounce back in 2021 after he wisely took a $6 million player option to return to the Mets.
“I never felt like myself to be honest with you,’’ said Betances, who rehabbed an Achilles injury last offseason and spent 25 days on the injured list this past season with right lat tightness. In 15 games, Betances had a 7.71 ERA and gave up 12 hits and 12 walks in 11 ²/₃ innings.
From 2014-18 many considered the New York City native, who turns 33 in March, to be the best relief pitcher in baseball. But the past two seasons have been a struggle due to injuries.
That Betances is concentrating on throwing and not rehabbing an injury has him encouraged better days are ahead.
“This year I am not rehabbing an Achilles and coming out of a boot,’’ said Betances, who suffered the injury in the only game he pitched for the Yankees in 2019. “This year I have been working out and throwing a lot.’’
As many players have, Betances described the COVID-19 impacted season as weird.
“I was with a brand new team and right away we didn’t start the season,’’ Betances said. “Then in the second spring training you couldn’t be close to your teammates.’’