He would like to CC Yanks again
HOUSTON — If this turns out to be his final game in pinstripes, CC Sabathia will go down as an admirable, stand-up Yankee and one of the best free-agent signings in team history.
Following Saturday’s season-ending 4-0 loss to the Astros in Game 7 of the ALCS, however, the veteran lefty strongly indicated he hopes to return in 2018 as a free agent after his $25 million annual salary expires following the World Series.
“Definitely, this is my home and I want to see this thing through,” Sabathia said. “We need to come back here and finish this off.
“This is where I want to play. Hopefully (that will happen), but you never know.”
Sabathia lasted only 3.1 innings in his third start of this postseason, allowing just a homer to Evan Gattis leading off the fourth. But the whole night admittedly was a battle from the start for the 37-year-old former Cy Young winner, who had posted a 2.30 ERA in his two previous starts in the playoffs. This marked his only loss in 11 decisions this year (postseason included) immediately following a Yankee defeat.
“I just wasn’t sharp and couldn’t throw enough strikes,” said Sabathia, who Joe Girardi indicated was possibly dealing with a cold during the game. “It’s tough. This is hard. This is the feeling that you don’t want, but this is a young team that we’re turning into something great.
“This is a great team, a fun team that will be back in this position. But this is tough. This hurts. But we’ll be better for it.”
Sabathia added he “1,000 percent” believes the Yanks have “unfinished business” after falling one win shy of reaching the World Series for the first time since 2009. He hopes to be a part of it, possibly on a shorter-term deal, after going 14-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 27 starts during the regular season despite dealing with ongoing knee issues and throwing with significantly decreased velocity than earlier in his career.
“Who knows what the future is, but he’s been tremendous,” GM Brian Cashman said, recalling signing Sabathia as a free agent ahead of the 2009 season. “I still remember saying I have to be John Calipari getting in that house and coming out with that recruit. Thankfully I played Coach Cal very well, and CC came here, and every step of the way he’s competed and had a lot of success.”
“Again, obviously, everything else going forward is yet to be determined, but I’m proud of the competitor that he’s been.”
Girardi also spoke highly and reverentially about Sabathia, even getting choked up when asked about him during his postgame news conference.
“CC will always be special to me because of what he stands for,” Girardi said. “And the great player that he is. The great man that he is. The wonderful teammate that he is, how he pulls a team together. He’s as good as I’ve ever been around when it comes to a clubhouse guy, a guy that will take the ball when you’re on a losing streak or that you can count on, and knowing that it could be the possible last time. I’m not saying that he won’t be back. But there’s no guarantees for me.
“And I’m very thankful for the years that I’ve had with CC. He’s taught me a lot. And our players can learn a lot from CC. The kind of fighter that he is. The things that he has to overcome to be successful. The knee issues and he doesn’t have the 98 (mph) in the pocket anymore. And how he reinvented himself. He’s special — as special as they get.”