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MLB Free Agency: CC Sabathia returns to Yankees on 1-year deal

By Christopher Novak

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 21: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees reacts after Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees caught a line drive in the outfield hit by Yuli Gurriel #10 of the Houston Astros during the second inning in Game Seven of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 21, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 21: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees reacts after Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees caught a line drive in the outfield hit by Yuli Gurriel #10 of the Houston Astros during the second inning in Game Seven of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 21, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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CC Sabathia is back with the Yankees. The left-hander signed a 1-year deal to stay in pinstripes on Saturday.

The New York Yankees have had themselves an offseason. The Bronx Bombers hauled reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton to the Bronx earlier in December. They have also been in the mix for Michael Fulmer and Gerrit Cole.

On Saturday, though, they focused in on keeping one of their own. And sure enough, that’s exactly what they did. CC Sabathia agreed to a 1-year deal to stay with the pinstripes. Sabathia will be getting $10 million in 2018, reports MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.

Sabathia was a prime candidate to return to the Yankees this offseason. Although he hit the free agent market, this move seemed inevitable. While he was reportedly in talks with the Angels, he won’t be heading back to his home state of California. Instead, 2018 will be the 10th year that Sabathia will be with the Yankees.

This is a quality move for the Yankees for their rotation. Sabathia isn’t the ace he once was, but he’s an innings-eater and is coming off his best season in the last few years in the Bronx. And when you can get that out of your fourth starter, that’s all you can ask for. Sabathia will be around Sonny Gray, Masahiro Tanaka and Cy Young finalist Luis Severino for the upcoming 2018 campaign.

If the Yankees can grab either Fulmer or Cole, the latter looking more likely than the former, then their rotation looks extremely formidable. Especially in an AL East that, for the most part, is scarce on complete rotation talent. Even as it is, the group of four, plus perhaps Jordan Montgomery, is a stealthy rotation.

Next: Best Starting Pitchers in MLB History

In nine years with the Yankees, Sabathia has been one of their rotation’s best. He posted a 3.75 ERA in 1,657.2 innings pitched, with 1,453 strikeouts to 486 walks. He helped the Yankees win the World Series in 2009. And this past season, was one of the main ingredients to their ALCS run, including a dominant showing in the Game 5 clincher against Cleveland.

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