Although CC Sabathia has just one year left on his deal with the Yankees, that doesn’t mean the 36-year-old lefty is ready to hang it up after 2017. Sabathia said recently he wants to play beyond next year, and that hopefully it’s in the Bronx.
Sabathia struggled with making the transition from a power pitcher to a finesse guy over the last few years, but appears to have found it this season. He was able to go into 2016 with a clear head for the first time in a long time after spending a month in a Connecticut rehab facility for alcohol abuse last October. Sabathia has also found comfort in a new knee brace, which provides stability to his surgically repaired right knee.
It’s because of all of this that Sabathia feels he can still get big league hitters out on a consistent basis. “I know I want to pitch after next year, but I haven’t thought about where or what. Hopefully it will be here. We’ll see,” Sabathia told the Daily News. He added:
“I just know myself,” Sabathia said. “I know I feel like it’s not my time yet. Barring any crazy injuries, I know I can pitch past next year. I feel like this is just the beginning of what I’m trying to do. I feel like there’s a lot more still to learn and a lot better to get. It’s exciting.”
With tonight’s start, Sabathia has now made at least 30 starts in a season 12 times in his career, and has done so for the first time since 2013. Except for one minor stint on the disabled list in May, Sabathia has remained remarkably healthy. Entering tonight’s game, he’s logged 172.1 innings. Health, Sabathia believes, is the key for his success going forward:
“Health has been a big factor in that. I feel like I’ve made big strides in becoming the pitcher I’ve been trying to become. I’m excited about it. As long as I’m healthy, I feel like I’ll be able to get big-league hitters out. I’ve proven that.”
Prior to tonight’s start, Sabathia entered with an 8-12 record and a 4.02 ERA. A good start would lower his ERA to below four for the first time since 2012.
With pitching hard to come by these days, it might be worth it for the Yankees to consider Sabathia as a number five starter beyond next season. Sabathia can only fine-tune his new found pitching style, and his veteran leadership and presence would be a welcome addition to a clubhouse that figures to have a lot of young kids.
