CC officially returns to Yanks for 10th season
Left-hander agrees to 1-year, $10 million deal
NEW YORK -- When his Yankees finished their season one victory shy of advancing to the World Series, Carsten Sabathia said that he believed there was unfinished business to attend to. The veteran left-hander is officially ready to help take those steps toward the next level.
Sabathia's new agreement with the Yankees was formally announced on Tuesday afternoon. The 37-year-old agreed to terms on a one-year, $10 million contract on Dec. 16.
"I feel like this is a young team, and we will turn this into something great," Sabathia said after Game 7 of the American League Championship Series. "This is my home, and I want to see this thing through."
Sabathia, who was 14-5 with a 3.69 ERA last season, led the club in victories as the Yankees won 19 of his 27 starts.
During the regular season, Sabathia was 9-0 with a 1.71 ERA in 10 starts that followed a Yankees loss. He made four playoff starts, going 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA as the Yankees advanced to their first ALCS since 2012.
The Yankees remain interested in adding another starting pitcher even after re-signing Sabathia, who will pad a rotation that figures to be headlined by Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka and Sonny Gray, with Chad Green, Jordan Montgomery and Adam Warren also in contention for spots.
The Pirates' Gerrit Cole, the D-backs' Patrick Corbin and the Tigers' Michael Fulmer are three of the names that general manager Brian Cashman has discussed in trade negotiations, though teams have repeatedly asked for top prospects Gleyber Torres, Clint Frazier or Estevan Florial in discussions.
Sabathia fielded interest from the Angels and Blue Jays before agreeing to his new contract. Baseball's active leader with 2,846 career strikeouts and 3,317 innings pitched, the 17-year veteran is a six-time All-Star and was the winner of the 2007 AL Cy Young Award. He has compiled a record of 237-146 with a 3.70 ERA with the Indians, Brewers and Yankees.
In nine seasons with New York, Sabathia is 120-73 with a 3.75 ERA in 255 starts. On the Yankees' all-time franchise lists, he ranks sixth among pitchers in strikeouts (1,453), is 11th in starts, is tied for 13th in wins and places 14th in innings pitched.
"There were competitive offers that CC was weighing, but in the end, CC wanted to come back and win a championship with the Yankees," said Sabathia's agent, Kyle Thousand. "He loves his teammates, the clubhouse and the moves the Yankees are making. He wants to bring home another championship to the Yankee fans."