CC Sabathia

2009

CC Sabathia in 2009

On December 18, 2008, Sabathia signed a seven-year, $161 million contract with the New York Yankees. It was the largest contract for a pitcher in MLB history until 2013 when Félix Hernández of the Seattle Mariners signed a seven-year $175 million contract.^[23][24] On March 26, 2009, manager Joe Girardi announced that Sabathia would be the Opening Day starter and the starter for the home opener at the new Yankee Stadium.^[25] Sabathia won his first championship ring with the Yankees, finishing 19–8 with a 3.37 ERA, 197 strikeouts in 230 innings, a 1.15 WHIP and a .232 opponent batting average in 34 starts (21 quality starts). His 19 wins were tied for the most in the major leagues that year, along with Félix Hernández, Justin Verlander and Adam Wainwright, and his 6.2 bWAR was the third highest in the American League amongst pitchers. Sabathia was well noted for his dominant performance after the All-Star break; in 15 starts he went 11–2 with a 2.74 ERA in ​101 ²⁄₃ innings, striking out 102 and giving up only 7 home runs. He was also awarded the August 2009 AL Pitcher of the Month Award, posting a 5–0 record in 6 starts with a 2.64 ERA and 49 strikeouts in ​44 ¹⁄₃ innings. The Yankees finished the regular season with a 103–59 record, the best in the Major Leagues, including an MLB best 52–22 record after the All-Star break.

Sabathia got his first career postseason victory with the Yankees in the first game of the 2009 ALDS; against the Minnesota Twins Sabathia gave up 2 runs (1 earned) in ​6 ²⁄₃ innings with 8 strikeouts as the Yankees swept the series in three games. Sabathia also won the American League Championship Series (ALCS) Most Valuable Player Award for his performance in the 2009 ALCS; in two starts against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, he went 2–0 with a 1.13 ERA in 16 innings, striking out 12 and walking three. In both of those starts, Sabathia pitched eight innings of one-run ball as the Yankees beat the Angels in six games to advance to their first World Series since 2003. Despite failing to pick up a win in either of his World Series starts, Sabathia was effective, posting a 3.29 ERA in ​13 ²⁄₃ innings to help lead the Yankees to a series win over the defending champions, the Philadelphia Phillies, in six games, the Yankees' 27th World Series title, their first since 2000 and the first of Sabathia's career. In five postseason starts, Sabathia went 3–1 with a 1.98 ERA in ​36 ¹⁄₃ innings with 32 strikeouts and limiting hitters to a .209 batting average. Sabathia finished fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting behind Zack Greinke, Félix Hernández, and Justin Verlander, and 21st in the AL MVP voting. He also received the Warren Spahn Award for the third year in a row, becoming only the second pitcher in history to achieve this distinction after Randy Johnson, who won the award the first four years it was presented (1999-2002), as well as the second Yankee to win the award after Andy Pettitte, who won the award in 2003.

2010

On April 10, 2010, Sabathia took a no-hitter into the 8th inning. With two outs in the inning, former teammate Kelly Shoppach ripped a single to left field, ending the no-hit bid.^[26] On July 4, he earned his fourth All-Star selection, and his first as a Yankee. At the time of the All-Star break, Sabathia was 12–3 with a 3.09 ERA in 131 innings (19 starts). On August 22, Sabathia recorded his 16th consecutive start of at least six innings allowing three earned runs or less, breaking a tie with Ron Guidry (from his Cy Young Award-winning 1978 season) for the longest streak in franchise history.^[27] His streak was snapped in his next start on August 28, where he allowed five earned runs in seven innings to the Chicago White Sox. On September 18, he defeated the Baltimore Orioles to become baseball's first 20-game winner in 2010. The win also marks the first time he had ever won 20 games in a single season in his career.^[28] Sabathia had won 19 games in a season twice previously: in 2007 with the Indians and 2009 in his first season with the Yankees. In 2010, Sabathia had a 21–7 record in 34 starts, recording a 3.18 ERA, .239 opponent batting average, a 1.19 WHIP, 197 strikeouts in ​237 ²⁄₃ innings and a career-high 26 quality starts, as the Yankees won the AL Wild Card after finishing second in the AL East to the Tampa Bay Rays with a 95–67 record. Despite posting a 2–0 record in three playoff starts that year, Sabathia posted a 5.63 ERA across 16 innings as the Yankees were defeated in the ALCS by the Texas Rangers in six games. He finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting behind Félix Hernández and David Price and 13th in the AL MVP voting.

During the offseason, Sabathia was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his right knee, requiring arthroscopic surgery performed by Dr. Christopher Ahmad to repair. Sabathia began therapy immediately after the surgery and began his regular routine in preparation for spring training after three to six weeks.^[29][30] He lost from 25 to 30 pounds to prevent future problems with his knee.^[31]

2011

Sabathia was the opening day starter for the Yankees for the third year in a row, and the sixth consecutive year overall. On May 24 he pitched a complete game in a 5–4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays; it was his first nine-inning complete game victory at Yankee Stadium. On June 25 against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium, Sabathia twirled eight innings of one-run ball with nine punchouts to record his 10th win of the season, making him one of only a few pitchers in history to record at least eleven seasons of double-digit wins. In addition, it was Sabathia's 50th victory as a Yankee in 85 starts, becoming the fastest pitcher to reach that mark since Chien-Ming Wang recorded his 50th win for the Yankees on April 22, 2008, also in his 85th start. In his next start on June 30 against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sabathia tied a career-high with 13 strikeouts in ​7 ²⁄₃ scoreless innings as the Yankees won 5–0; his 13th strikeout of that game also marked Sabathia's 500th strikeout as a Yankee. Sabathia was named to his fifth career All-Star game, replacing James Shields on the roster, however he elected to pitch the Sunday before the All-Star game and thus his spot on the active roster was given to Alexi Ogando. In his final start before the All-Star break on July 10, 2011, Sabathia pitched a complete game shutout against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium, striking out nine while issuing only four hits and one walk. It was Sabathia's 32nd career complete game and 12th career shutout. Sabathia entered the All-Star break leading the Major Leagues with 13 wins against just 4 losses, posting a 2.72 ERA in 20 starts, with 126 strikeouts against just 35 walks in ​145 ²⁄₃ innings. He became the first Yankee pitcher to have 13 wins by the All-Star break since Andy Pettitte in 1996. On July 26, 2011, Sabathia took a perfect game through ​6 ¹⁄₃ innings against the Seattle Mariners, retiring the first 19 batters he faced in a game interrupted twice due to rain. He ended up striking out 14 batters through 7 innings (setting a career high), and pitching another one-hitter, this one, a combined one-hitter. Sabathia was pulled before recording an out in the 8th after walking three batters to load the bases; relief pitchers David Robertson and Mariano Rivera finished the game, with Robertson allowing only one run (charged to Sabathia) on a double-play ground ball that would have ended the inning, but was bobbled by third baseman Eric Chavez.^[32] For his performance in July 2011, Sabathia was named the AL Pitcher of the Month. He posted a 4–1 record with a 0.92 ERA in 5 starts, striking out 50 batters and walking 13 while allowing just four earned runs 39 innings. He also pitched two complete games and one shutout.^[33] Sabathia recorded his 2,000th career strikeout on September 10, 2011 against Torii Hunter of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.^[34] In 2011 across 33 starts, Sabathia had a 19–8 record, a 3.00 ERA, 230 strikeouts, ​237 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched, a 1.21 WHIP, and 22 quality starts. His 230 strikeouts marked the third-highest number of strikeouts in a single season in franchise history, the most since Ron Guidry's franchise record 248 strikeouts in 1978, and the second-most in the American League behind Justin Verlander's 250 strikeouts. Sabathia also became the first Yankee pitcher to strike out more than 200 batters in a single season since Randy Johnson in 2005, as well as the first Yankee pitcher to finish in the top two in the American League in strikeouts since Johnson did so that same year. The Yankees won the AL East once again with a 97–65 record, however, Sabathia struggled in the ALDS, posting a 6.23 ERA in ​8 ²⁄₃} innings in 3 appearances (2 starts) as the Yankees were defeated by the Detroit Tigers in five games. Sabathia once again finished fourth in the AL Cy Young voting behind Verlander, Jered Weaver and James Shields, and 14th in the AL MVP voting.

Though his contract contained an opt-out clause that allowed him to become a free agent after the 2011 season, Sabathia said he had no intention of exercising it as he loves playing for the New York Yankees and his family loves life in New York.^[35][36] On October 31, 2011, Sabathia announced via his Twitter account that he would not be exercising his opt-out clause and had signed an extension with the Yankees. The extension was for an additional year on his original seven-year contract, worth $25 million, along with a $25 million vesting option with a $5 million buyout for the following year.^[37][38] He finished fourth in Cy Young voting after the season.^[39]

2012

CC Sabathia pitching

Sabathia began the 2012 season with bad footing as he allowed a grand slam by Carlos Peña in his first inning of work on opening day against the Tampa Bay Rays.^[40] He recovered, however, going 9–3 with a 3.55 ERA in his first 16 starts. He won five straight starts from April 17 to May 10, posting a 2.52 ERA in ​39 ¹⁄₃ innings with 38 strikeouts and just five walks allowed. He threw a complete game against the Atlanta Braves on June 18, allowing two runs and one walk while striking out ten. It was Sabathia's 34th career complete game and eighth as a Yankee.^[41] Sabathia was named an All-Star for the third season in a row and sixth time in his career, however he was unable to participate as he was placed on the DL on June 27 with a strained abductor muscle. Sabathia returned from the DL on July 17, pitching six scoreless innings against the Toronto Blue Jays to pick up his 10th victory of the season. Sabathia pitched another complete game on August 3 against the Seattle Mariners, striking out ten and allowing three earned runs to improve his record on the season to 11–3. Sabathia was placed on the DL again on August 11 with soreness in his left elbow, but returned on August 24 against the Cleveland Indians pitching ​7 ¹⁄₃ innings of one-run, four-hit ball with nine strikeouts. In his final eight starts of the season, Sabathia posted a 2.93 ERA and 57 strikeouts in ​58 ²⁄₃ innings. Despite only making 28 starts due to his time spent on the disabled list, Sabathia finished the 2012 season with a 15–6 record, a 3.38 ERA, 200 innings pitched (his sixth straight season of pitching at least 200 innings), 197 strikeouts, 184 hits allowed, and 19 quality starts. Sabathia led the American League in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.48 K/BB), pitched six or more innings in all but one of his starts and recorded six games with 10 or more strikeouts. Through his first four years with the Yankees, in 129 starts Sabathia had delivered a 74–29 record, a 3.22 ERA, 905 innings pitched, 821 strikeouts, a 3.34 K/BB ratio, a 1.18 WHIP and 88 quality starts. The Yankees won the AL East for the third time in four years with a 95-67 record, the best in the American League.

In the 2012 American League Division Series, Sabathia dominated, winning both the first and fifth (deciding) games against the Baltimore Orioles. After throwing ​8 ²⁄₃ innings and giving up just two earned runs in a win at Camden Yards in Game 1, Sabathia threw his first career postseason complete game in Game 5, allowing one run, four hits, two walks and striking out nine as the Yankees defeated the Orioles in five games. However, Sabathia lost Game Four of the 2012 ALCS, allowing six runs (five earned) in ​3 ²⁄₃ innings to the Detroit Tigers, as the Yankees, who had already lost Derek Jeter for the rest of the postseason in Game 1 due to a fractured ankle, were swept in four games, ending their season. On October 25, 2012, Sabathia underwent arthroscopic surgery in his left elbow to remove a bone spur.^[42]

2013

In 2013, Sabathia's velocity decrease caused him to transition into becoming a pitcher that had to rely more on location rather than velocity. He made his eighth consecutive Opening Day start, and fifth for the Yankees, on April 1 in a 8–2 loss against the Boston Red Sox. Sabathia pitched two complete games that season: the first came on June 5 where Sabathia beat the Cleveland Indians, allowing four earned runs with nine strikeouts in a 6–4 win at Yankee Stadium, the other came on July 9 against the Kansas City Royals also at Yankee Stadium, where he allowed just three earned runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in nine innings, but lost the game as the Yankees were beaten 3–1 due to a strong performance by a resurgent James Shields. On July 3, Sabathia collected his 200th career win against the Minnesota Twins.^[43] His season ended early due to a strained hamstring, finishing with a 14–13 record and a then career-worst 4.78 ERA in 32 starts; in 211 innings he struck out 175 batters, but also gave up 112 earned runs (the most in the American League), 224 hits, 28 home runs and 65 walks.^[44] Most alarming about Sabathia's 2013 season were his home-road and first half-second half splits. In 16 starts at Yankee Stadium he went 10–5 with a 4.06 ERA in ​108 ²⁄₃} innings and striking out 97, but struggled mightily on the road, posting a 4–8 record with a 5.54 ERA in ​102 ¹⁄₃ innings and just 78 strikeouts. Similarly, Sabathia went 9–8 with a 4.07 ERA in 137 innings (20 starts) with 117 strikeouts prior to the All-Star Break, but struggled afterwards, going 5–5 with a 6.08 ERA in 74 innings (12 starts) and striking out just 58. Despite his subpar season, it marked Sabathia's thirteenth straight season with at least 11 wins and his seventh straight season (and eighth overall) with at least 200 innings pitched, impressive numbers nonetheless.

Sabathia lost 40 pounds in 2013 and showed up to spring training in 2014 weighing 275 pounds. He admitted to crash dieting after a cousin of his died of heart disease in December 2012.^[45][46]

2014

On May 12, 2014, Sabathia was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to right knee inflammation. Fluid buildup was detected in the knee and the buildup was drained by a shot with no surgery required. Seeking a second opinion with Dr. James Andrews, he received a stem-cell shot in the knee. Sabathia was transferred to the 60-day disabled list on July 1 (retroactive to May 11) being sidelined until early to mid-July or later. After making a rehab appearance with the Double-A Trenton Thunder, Sabathia began to experience swelling in his right knee, putting his season in jeopardy. The Yankees projected that Sabathia might need microfracture surgery, which could potentially end his career. On July 16, it was announced that Sabathia's 2014 season had ended. In only 8 starts in 2014, Sabathia went 3–4 with a 5.28 ERA. He underwent surgery on July 23 to repair his degenerated knee.^[47] Luckily, the Yankees announced that although Sabathia would need a total knee replacement when his career was finished, microfracture surgery was not necessary to repair the damage, thus leaving the door open for him to return for the 2015 season.

2015

Sabathia reported to spring training weighing 305 pounds (138 kg), as he believed his decreased weight contributed to his poor and injury-shortened 2014 season.^[48] Sabathia pitched a complete game on April 20, his 36th career complete game, giving up two earned runs in eight innings in a 2–1 loss to the Detroit Tigers. During a game against the Angels on June 7, 2015, Sabathia recorded his 2,500th career strikeout, becoming the 31st pitcher in MLB history to reach that milestone, but was later ejected along with Joe Girardi for getting into a confrontation with MLB umpire Dan Bellino following a double play.^[49]

Sabathia went on the disabled list after leaving the game of August 23 with right knee soreness. He had a 4–9 record with a 5.27 ERA in 24 games started to that point.^[50] He returned to the Yankees on September 9 wearing a knee brace.^[51] He pitched to a 2.17 ERA in five starts after returning, including winning the game that clinched the Yankees a playoff berth in the 2015 American League Wild Card Game.^[52] Sabathia finished the season with a 6–10 record in 29 starts with a 4.73 ERA in ​167 ¹⁄₃ innings, including a 2.86 ERA in his final 9 starts. However, Sabathia missed the playoffs as he checked himself into an alcohol rehabilitation facility; the Yankees would go on to lose the 2015 American League Wild Card Game to the Houston Astros, eliminating them from their first postseason appearance since 2012.

2016

On April 9, Sabathia picked up the win in his season debut after limiting the Detroit Tigers to three earned runs in six innings; this was the first time in eight seasons with the Yankees that Sabathia earned the win in his first start of the regular season, and only the second time in his career (the first being in 2007 where he went on to win the Cy Young Award). On May 6, Sabathia was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a left groin strain. On May 20, Sabathia recorded his 100th win as a New York Yankee in a 8–3 victory over the Oakland Athletics, going six innings, allowing one run and striking out eight.^[53] He became the eighth pitcher in baseball history to win 100 or more games with two different teams, and the first to reach said milestone since Mike Mussina in 2007. Making 30 starts in 2016, Sabathia finished 9–12 with a 3.91 ERA in ​179 ²⁄₃ innings (16 quality starts) with 152 strikeouts and a 1.32 WHIP. His strongest stretch of the season came in his last eight starts, from August 23 to September 29 Sabathia posted a 2.37 ERA in ​49 ¹⁄₃ innings with 42 strikeouts and limiting opponents to a .227 batting average. On October 11, Sabathia underwent surgery on his right knee, described as a routine cleanup.^[54]

2017

Sabathia experienced a career renaissance in 2017, finally having transitioned successfully from a pitcher who relied on power and velocity to one with impeccable command and pinpoint control, as he managed to post his best numbers since 2012. From May 16 to June 7, Sabathia won five straight starts for the first time since 2012; during this span he posted a 1.11 ERA in ​32 ¹⁄₃ innings. Sabathia's best start of the season came on June 7 against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Facing off against reigining AL Cy Young Winner Rick Porcello, Sabathia pitched eight scoreless innings, scattering five hits, striking out five and walking none as the Yankees beat the Red Sox 8–0. This marked Sabathia's first start where he completed eight innings since April 20, 2015, a span of 67 starts, and his first start with eight or more scoreless innings since September 21, 2012, a span of 112 starts. On June 13, Sabathia left the game after an apparent left hamstring injury. It was eventually revealed that his left hamstring was diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain, landing him on the disabled list.^[55] He returned on July 4, starting against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.^[56] On July 21, Sabathia earned a win on his 37th birthday, throwing five innings of one-run ball against the Seattle Mariners in a 5-1 Yankee win.^[57] On August 1, Sabathia made his 500th career start in a losing effort, against the Detroit Tigers.^[58] He was the second player in Major League history to make 500 starting pitching appearances in the regular season without ever appearing as a reliever; the feat was previously achieved by Tom Glavine.^[59] On August 8, he was taken out of a game after the third inning after experiencing pain in his surgically repaired right knee.^[60][61] On August 11, Sabathia landed on the 10-day disabled list again due to the lingering knee problem. After returning from the DL on August 19, he went 5–0 over his last eight starts with a 2.91 ERA in ​46 ¹⁄₃ innings, allowing three earned runs or less in all but one of those starts as he helped the Yankees clinch the top Wild Card spot. Sabathia finished the season 14–5 with a 3.69 ERA, 120 strikeouts and a 1.27 WHIP in ​148 ²⁄₃ innings (27 starts), his best numbers in five years. Sabathia was especially dominant in the role of the Yankee's stopper. In games following a Yankee's loss, Sabathia went 9–0 with a 1.71 ERA in 11 starts, by far the best stats in both categories among pitchers who made at least seven starts following a team loss.^[62] In addition, Sabathia was the best pitcher against the best offensive team of 2017, the Boston Red Sox. In four starts against the Yankee archrivals, Sabathia went 4–0 with a 1.01 ERA in 26 innings, giving up 15 hits, striking out 18 and not allowing a single home run. Perhaps more impressively, in three of his four starts against the Red Sox, Sabathia faced either Rick Porcello or two-time All-Star game starting pitcher Chris Sale, posting a microscopic 0.90 ERA in 20 innings in games where he was opposed by either Porcello or Sale.

In the playoffs, Sabathia started Game 2 and Game 5 of the ALDS, first giving up two earned runs in ​5 ¹⁄₃ innings and then striking out nine in ​4 ¹⁄₃ innings as the Yankees advanced to the ALCS for the first time since 2012.^[63][64] Sabathia started Game 3 of the ALCS, earning the win after throwing six shutout innings and allowing only three hits.^[65]

On December 16, Sabathia re-signed with the Yankees on a one-year contract for $10 million. The deal became official on December 26.^[66]

2018

On April 6, 2018, Sabathia surrendered 3 solo home runs, and ended up leaving the game due to hip tightness. The next day, on April 7, he was put on the 10-day disabled list due to a right hip strain.^[67] From June 5 to July 9, Sabathia was especially dominant, posting a 4–3 record with a 2.89 ERA in ​43 ²⁄₃ innings, striking out 37 batters and allowing three earned runs or less in six out of seven starts. On June 12, Sabathia recorded his 1,500th strikeout as a Yankee in a 3–0 win over the Washington Nationals, joining Andy Pettitte, Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry and Red Ruffing as the only pitchers in Yankee history to do so. On June 29, Sabathia earned his 125th victory with the New York Yankees, defeating the Boston Red Sox with seven innings of one-run, six hit ball with five strikeouts. He became the 12th pitcher in Yankee history to achieve this milestone. Entering the All-Star break, Sabathia was 6–4 with a 3.51 ERA in 18 starts with 100 innings pitched. On August 7, Sabathia struck out a season-high 12 batters in ​5 ²⁄₃ innings as the Yankees beat the White Sox 4–3 in 13 innings. This marked Sabathia's 39th career game with double-digit strikeouts and his 20th with the Yankees. On August 13, Sabathia went back on the disabled list due to right knee inflammation.^[68] After missing just one start and having his knee drained again, Sabathia returned to the Yankees on August 24: scattering five hits and a pair of walks while striking out eight batters and giving up just two earned runs in six innings, Sabathia received a no-decision (his 12th of the season) as the Yankees went on to beat the Orioles 7–5 in 10 innings.

On September 27, Sabathia was ejected for intentionally hitting Rays catcher Jesús Sucre with a pitch, after Andrew Kittredge threw at Austin Romine's head in retaliation for Sabathia hitting Jake Bauers on the arm earlier in the game. He was only two innings shy of reaching a $500,000 bonus if he reached 155 innings pitched for the year.^[69] Sabathia received a 5-game suspension for throwing at Sucre, to be served in 2019; he announced his intention to appeal.^[70]