matter of time

Sabathia's return to Yanks will depend on years, money offered

With several industry voices saying the Yankees will begin interviewing managerial candidates this week in New York, it appears CC Sabathia might sell himself short if he is only looking for a one-year deal.

Finding Joe Girardi’s successor is the Yankees’ top priority as general manager Brian Cashman starts to sift through the process of landing a manager who is capable of leading a team loaded with talented young players in a market where expectations will be extremely high come spring training after falling a game short of reaching the World Series.

Eventually Cashman will have a manager in place and turn toward what the 2018 roster will look like.

There have been no indications the Yankees don’t want a reunion with Sabathia after a 14-5 regular season in which he made 27 starts, posted a 3.69 ERA and delivered solid outings in two of four postseason games.

During the middle of the season Sabathia, whose family has deep roots in Bergen County, N.J., said his preference was to remain in The Bronx where he has been since pitching the Yankees to the 2009 World Series title. In nine Yankees seasons, Sa- bathia is 120-73 with a 3.75 ERA in 255 regular-season starts.

After making $25 million last season on the final leg of what turned into a six-year deal, thanks to a vesting option for 2017, the 37-year-old lefty is in for a trim but the belief the 237-game winner would be limited to a one-year deal was debunked by several talent evaluators Tuesday.

“I think he could get two years for $20 million. He is a fourth starter who at times pitches like a two. His competitiveness and toughness makes him better than his stuff,’’ said an AL evaluator of Sabathia. “He still throws 90 to 91 miles per hour, still has the changeup and he still reads swings well. He has got to be right because everybody knows who he is.’’

After winning 15 games in his previous two seasons, Sabathia was one of 25 MLB starters to win 14 this season among the 103 who made at least 23 starts.

“He has reinvented himself and has really learned to do more with less,’’ an NL scout said. “Biggest concern is the knee, but he can help for another two years provided the knee holds up.’’

After fearing that his season was over Aug. 8 in Toronto when he was forced out of a game after three innings with right knee discomfort that landed him on the disabled list, Sabathia resurfaced Aug. 19 at Fenway Park and began a terrific string of eight starts. He went 5-0 with a 2.91 ERA and the Yankees went 6-2 in those games.

In four postseason starts Sabathia was 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA, held hitters to a .216 average and a .574 OPS. After the Yankees dropped the first two games of the ALCS to the Astros, Sabathia won Game 3 by providing six shutout innings and allowing three hits in an 8-1 victory. However, he was the loser in Game 7 when Girardi replaced him in the fourth inning of a 4-0, seasonending defeat.

“What was big for me was the confidence and execution of his cutter into right-handed hitters,’’ an AL scout said. “I can see him getting a two-year deal.’’

Of course, not everybody believes Sabathia can carry 2017 into 2018.

“He pitched backwards to perfection,’’ an AL evaluator said. “I am not sure he can repeat that next year.’’

The easy play is Sabathia returns to the Yankees and falls back into the rotation that has Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Sonny Gray and Jordan Montgomery already in it.

But for how much money and how many years?