That of Beto Ávila to Víctor González

Coral Gables, Florida (VIP-WIRE). “Dear Víctor: At 28 years old you have an extraordinary future in your hands: you are the reliever that the teams need. Yankees, so your native Mexican home, Tuxpan, Nayarit, can now celebrate. In the Bronx, they would never have given Trey Sweeney in a trade if they didn’t see a remarkable future. That boy, 24 years old, tremendous shortstop, was seriously in the Bronx’s plans. But they sent him to Los Angeles, for you and for the Venezuelan Jorbit Vivas.

It is also true that your acquisition was accelerated because in the Bronx they lost, via free agent, Dominican left-handed pitcher Wandy Peralta, now with the Padres. For this reason, the Yankees need you as you are, since you just as long relieve as you make the last outs. That is very important for the future. In case you are interested, I am a native of Veracruz, and in 1954, with the Indians, I was the leading hitter of the American Leaguebut the most important thing was that we won the League title, even though the Giants beat us World Series. It’s the story, dear friend. Well, Víctor, friend, you already have four seasons of experience in the Majors, with a good record of 11-5, 3.15, five saves. And in the current campaign, 2-1, 2.63, two saves. Excellent numbers!

If you examine your life, you have to trust in your good conditions, because genes are extraordinary. You have had four professional baseball uncles in Mexico, Fernando González, Rodolfo González, Vinicio González and Joel Navarro.

On the other hand, you already know the brilliant history of the Yankees’ relief pitching, from the historic Puerto Rican Tite Arroyo, a left-hander like you, to the Panamanian right-hander, Mariano Rivera, the best reliever of all time.

You have something to enter into that history of the famous Yankees bullpen. At the end of this season you will be able to go to arbitration and be a free agent in 2027. My advice is that you leave your business in the hands of the agents and you dedicate yourself to staying as good as possible to pitch. But ask your agents to try to avoid both arbitration and being released. Remember the traditional advice: “Better a bad settlement than a good war.”

I think you have done well with your fees: from the Dodgers in 2021, $580,500; in 2022, 720 thousand, the same as in 2023; and this year with the Yankees, 860 thousand. Of course in 2025 you must take the leap to be a millionaire. I say, to earn a million or more per season.

Take it easy, but be very dedicated to your career. Love baseball and respect it. Recognize the value of the fans and the importance of the show. May everything continue well in your career. Above all, I wish you the best possible health… Beto.

Of Venezuelan origin, naturalized American. He was born on January 10, 1929. He began working as a reporter in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1947, and later graduated, in 1953, as a journalist from the Márquez Sterling school in Havana, Cuba. Postgraduate degree in historian in 1963, at Saint Francis College, Andale, Minnesota. He has covered all types of sources in journalism, has directed newspapers and magazines in Venezuela and the United States. Since October 1960, he has dedicated himself exclusively to Major League baseball. He was a radio and television announcer of Major League games for 22 years for Latin America, including Mexico. He has produced and broadcast numerous television programs about baseball. His daily column,

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