When CC Sabathia signed his then record-breaking seven-year, $161 million contract with the Yankees on December 18, 2008, it immediately paid dividends for the team. The Yankees were able to pencil in a workhorse ace capable of eating up innings every fifth day.
Sabathia would enjoy a memorable first season in the Bronx as he would be the Opening Day starter, as well as getting the nod to step on the mound to open the new Yankee Stadium. He went 19-8 that first year, with a 3.37 ERA, finishing fourth in the Cy Young voting. He also racked up the 2009 ALCS MVP award, getting the win in games one and four over the Los Angeles Angels. He was an instrumental piece in leading the Yankees to their 27th World Series title.
Now, seven years later it is a much different story for CC. He’s no longer a front-end of the rotation starter, but will now compete for a back-end of the rotation spot due to his recent struggles with his ailing knee and alcohol addiction. Although he is far removed from that pitcher who dominated baseball from 2007-2009, Sabathia can still be a key to the Yankees success in 2016.
Keep in mind that even though he struggled throughout most of the 2015 season, he finished the season strong with a 2.17 ERA in his final five starts including winning the pivotal game that clinched the Yankees’ playoff spot. He attributed some of the success to a newfound knee brace, which he said provided stability and comfort to his right knee.
We all know that the MLB season as a whole is a grind, and injuries can and will happen especially to older players, and this especially can apply to a pitcher like CC who has been an innings-eater throughout his career. However, if he can put the injuries and personal problems behind him, there is no reason to believe CC can’t put together a string of performances similar to what he closed out 2015 with.
The really strong starters can learn over time to pitch with finesse rather than the reliance on power as the years pile on in their career. We’ve already seen an example of this in Andy Pettitte, who was very good as a late-thirties starter, and was an AL All-Star selection at age 38. It also helps Sabathia that the Yankees have now added Aroldis Chapman to a bullpen that already has Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances.
If CC could average five to six innings each outing and give the Yankees quality starts, it could be a huge comeback year for him, for he could turn those starts over to perhaps what could be the most dominant bullpen in all of baseball in 2016. When you look around the league, and you see what teams are going through just to find someone who can fill a gap as a 5th starter, doesn’t it make sense that a rejuvenated and healthy Sabathia would be a plus even as an aging back-end of the rotation guy?
In a few weeks when pitchers and catchers report to Tampa for Spring Training, the journey for CC’s comeback will begin. Think about it: if CC Sabathia had a bounce back year, after his injuries and personal struggles and became a key to the Yankees run to 28, it would certainly make a great story.
