Sabathia to make 2019 his final year

CARLSBAD, Calif. — CC Sabathia is staying with the New York Yankees for an 11th season after agreeing to an $8 million, one-year contract.

Sabathia says 2019 will be his final season in the major leagues.

“This will be it,” the 38-yearold lefthander said in a video posted on Twitter.

New York announced the agreement Wednesday after a successful physical. The deal does not include any performance bonuses.

The 38-year-old went 9-7 with a 3.65 ERA in 29 starts this year. He had surgery on his right knee after the 2010 season, in July 2014, after the 2016 season and again last month. Sabathia pitches with a brace on the knee and needs periodic injections there during the season. He is 129-80 for the Yankees. Sabathia signed a $161 million, seven-year contract with the Yankees before the 2009 season and led New York to its first World Series title since 2000, then used the leverage of an opt-out provision after the 2011 season to get a new deal that added a $25 million salary for 2016 with a $25 million team option for 2017.

Sabathia took a cut to $10 million this year. He missed a $500,000 performance bonus by two innings when he was ejected in his last regular-season start for hitting Tampa Bay’s Jesus Sucre after Rays pitcher Andrew Kittredge threw up-and-in to Austin Romine. Sabathia was suspended the first five games of 2019 but has appealed.