Post-rehab version of CC begins to work

CC Sabathia’s 2016 has begun. The lefty, coming back from a right knee injury and an offseason stint in rehab, threw off flat ground and in the bullpen in front of pitching coach Larry Rothschild at the Yankees spring training complex in Tampa on Friday.

Sabathia, 35, is coming off a rocky season that ended when he missed the wildcard game against the Astros to get treatment for alcohol abuse.

Due to make $25 million this season, Sabathia is coming off three bad years in a row since last making the AllStar team in 2012.

The Yankees are hoping the alcohol rehab and new knee brace he started wearing in the latter part of last season will keep him effective. He managed to go 21 with a 2.17 ERA in his final five outings of the season wearing the brace, but would have missed the rest of the playoffs if the Yankees had advanced.

Though pitchers and catchers don’t have to report until Feb. 18, Sabathia hasn’t been the only early arrival. Pitchers Andrew Miller, Bryan Mitchell, Luis Severino and infielder Dustin Ackley also have made appearances at the complex, along with pros pects such as outfielders Mason Williams and Aaron Judge and shortstop Jorge Mateo.

The Mets and new second baseman Neil Walker agreed to a oneyear, $10.55 million deal, avoiding arbitration.

Closer Jeurys Familia is the last Met in arbitration.

Walker’s agreement was $50,000 under the midpoint between the $11.8 million Walker had asked for in arbitration and the $9.4 million the Mets had offered. Walker is eligible for free agency after the World Series.

The Mets announced OF Brandon Nimmo was diagnosed with a partial tear of a tendon in his left foot after being examined at Hospital for Special Surgery this week. Nimmo received an injection and was placed in a boot for 10 days and will then be reevaluated.