New York Yankees lefty C.C. Sabathia will not be with the team during the postseason and instead will enter an alcohol treatment facility.
Already out for the season with a knee injury, C.C. Sabathia wasn’t expected to be on the team’s postseason roster. Unfortunately, he also won’t be with the team when they face the Houston Astros to start their playoff push on Tuesday, as the lefty has much more pressing matters to attend to.
On Monday morning, the pitcher released a statement saying that he will be leaving the team temporarily in order to enter an alcohol treatment facility.
Per the statement, shared by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports:
"“Today I am checking myself into an alcohol rehabilitation center to receive the professional care and assistance needed to treat my disease.“I love baseball and I love my teammates like brothers, and I am also fully aware that I am leaving at a time when we should all be coming together for one last push toward the World Series. It hurts me deeply to do this now, but I owe it to myself and to my family to get myself right. I want to take control of my disease, and I want to be a better man, father and player.“I want to thank the New York Yankees organization for their encouragement and understanding. Their support gives me great strength and has allowed me to move forward with this decision with a clear mind.“As difficult as this decision is to share publicly, I don’t want to run and hide. But for now please respect my family’s need for privacy as we work through this challenge together.“Being an adult means being accountable. Being a baseball player means that others look up to you. I want my kids — and others who may have become fans of mine over the years — to know that I am not too big of a man to ask for help. I want to hold my head up high, have a full heart and be the type of person again that I can be proud of. And that’s exactly what I am going to do.“I am looking forward to being out on the field with my team next season playing the game that brings me so much happiness.”"
Sabathia, who has one more guaranteed season on the 8-year, $182 million deal he signed in 2009, is due $25 million in 2016 and has a vesting option worth an additional $25 million for 2017 should he not spend more than 45 days on the disabled list next season season a shoulder issue. That’s a lot riding on a pitcher who has struggled to be the ace he is paid to be over the last three seasons.
Since 2013, Sabathia is a combined 23-27 with a 4.81 ERA, a 4.40 FIP, and a 7.6 K/9 ratio. During that time, he has made just 69 starts, including just eight in 2014 as knee issues have become a factor.
The timing of the decision is a curious one, as it will no doubt be a distraction to his teammates as they try to survive the one-and-done Wild Card game against the Astros. However, given that Sabathia was not likely to be a factor in the game mitigates the issue to some degree, allowing the big lefty to get the help he needs without being a burden on his team.
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