CC Sabathia (39-year-old ), will be entering his 11th season with the New York Yankees, after signing just a one-year deal for $8 million to return. League insiders and fans are not surprised given CC's age and his recent string of injuries. His knee has become weaker, not allowing him to play a full season.
ESPN reports CC Sabathia will become the Yankees fifth starter when he completes his five-game suspension this season. Sabathia still has not started throwing bullpens, because the Yankees are bringing him back slowly, after undergoing emergency heart surgery in December.
Sabathia has become one of the Yankees leaders and a fan favorite, so he will be missed when he ends up throwing his final pitch. He was dedicated to the game, bringing his best pitch after pitch and commitment to teammates.
CC Sabathia has had a stellar 18-year long career
CC Sabathia has been in the league for 18-years, recording a 246-153 and a 3.70 ERA. He stands 14 strikeouts away from 3,000 for his career. Sports Illustrated believes that if he manages to end his career with 250 wins and reach 3,000 strikes, he will definitely have earned his place in Cooperstown.
Sabathia was key during the 2009 postseason, becoming the MVP of the American League Championship Series and leading the Yankees into the World Series.
In 2009, he won 19 games and then returned in 2010, winning 21 games. Sabathia received the CY Young award in 2007.
Sabathia made his decision public during a press conference on Saturday. He also said his decision was made so he could spend more time with his family and kids, who are getting older. The best way Sabathia could complete his career would be to return to the World Series and have the opportunity to pitch in the series.
Yankees upgrading roster, possibly delivering one last championship to Sabathia
During the offseason, the Yankees have upgraded their bullpen, adding James Paxton to their starting rotation. They also re-signed Luis Severino. With all their improvements and upgrades, they could end up winning championship number 28. Sabathia told the media and public that going out with his final season and giving everything, hopefully, that will turn out good for him.
Sabathia says he just wants to be remembered as a good teammate.
As injuries continued to plague him, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said that he was thankful that CC was smart to explain his symptoms to team medical staff, which immediately reached out to New York-Presbyterian Hospital.