AP

Reserve infielder Wilson Betemit and the Yankees avoided arbitration, agreeing to a $1,165,000, one-year contract just before teams and players exchanged figures today.

Acquired from the Dodgers at the trade deadline last year in a deal for reliever Scott Proctor, Betemit was one of the role players who gave the Bombers an improved bench down the stretch. He hit .226 with four homers and 24 RBIs in 84 at-bats with the Yankees. Betemit played 14 games at first base for the Yankees, 14 at third, eight at shortstop, two at second and one in left field. Overall, the switch-hitter batted .229 with 14 homers and 50 RBIs in 121 games with the Dodgers and Yankees.

An accomplished pinch hitter, the 26-year-old was once considered a premier prospect with Atlanta. He made his major league debut at 19 in 2001.

Betemit made $405,000 last year. Three other Yankees remain in arbitration: second baseman Robinson Cano, pitcher Chien-Ming Wang and reliever Brian Bruney.