Usually when Spring Training starts, we hear that every player is “in the best shape” of his life. This might actually be the case for CC Sabathia, who will enter camp with a clear head for the first time in a while
“I feel the best I have in three years. I am excited to get to Tampa with a clear head and a healthy body,” Sabathia told the NY Post. Sabathia completed alcohol rehab last October, and spent the last few months preparing to compete for a rotation spot.
He’ll hope to carry over his success from the end of 2015 into the new campaign. Over his final nine starts, Sabathia went 2-2 with a 2.86 ERA over 50.1 innings. He attributed his good performance to a newfound knee-brace, which provided stability and comfort to his surgically repaired right knee.
Sabathia turns 36 in July, and is under contract for at least 2016. A vesting option kicks in for ’17 if he can avoid the DL this season due to a shoulder injury and if he doesn’t make more than six relief appearances out of the pen.
The Yankees hope that with his personal problems behind him, he’ll come into Spring Training focussed on baseball and baseball only. With a rotation full of question marks, Sabathia has the chance to be the anchor again.
Pitchers and catchers report in just eight days.
