CC Sabathia has become a fan favorite amongst the fans and the New York Yankees’ club hours and, he is not going anywhere.
The New York Yankees and CC Sabathia are nearing a one-year deal to keep the lefty in New York, according to Jon Heyman of Fancred.
Sources: CC signs back with yankees
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 6, 2018
The deal is expected to pay Sabathia eight million dollars next season as Joel Sherman of the NY Post reports.
I hear #Yankees and CC Sabathia are working thru final details of what, when finalized, would be a 1-yr, $8M deal. Hear Sabathia, in planned last season, didn't want to look around, wanted to quickly work out something with NYY.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 6, 2018
Sabathia signed with the Yankees prior to the start of the 2009 season and helped lead the team to their last championship in 2009.
In his time in the Bronx, the 38-year-old has a record of 129-80. He’s struck out 1,593 batters in 1,810.2 innings pitching to a 3.174 ERA.
Over the last three seasons, CC has had to reinvent himself, going from a power pitcher and transitioning into more of a finesses style. Although the transition had some hiccups, he has come a long way from where he was when he started to lose his stuff. Over the last two seasons, he’s posted a 3.67 ERA averaging just over five innings a start.
Not only has he transitioned his game, but he has also become one of the more important leaders within the Yankee clubhouse. That alone is something you cannot replace. Fans will always remember when Sabathia plunked Rays’ catcher Jesus Sucre in retaliation for Tampa hitting Austin Romine. Sabathia was ejected from the game and was unable to reach the innings needed in order for him to receive a bonus. Not only did the fans rally behind Sabathia, but so did his teammates who raved about following that game.
With the Yankees interested in some of the big names free agency has to offer, they hope Sabathia’s role in 2019 will be that of a fifth starter. The team is expected to trade Sonny Gray, so bringing Sabathia back gives the Yankees three starters with a guaranteed spot next season.
This is just the beginning of what the Yankees expect will be a busy offseason.
