Fansided

Which free agents will the Yankees re-sign for 2019?

By Rucker Haringey

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 21: Pitcher CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees in action in an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on September 21, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees won 10-8. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 21: Pitcher CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees in action in an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on September 21, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees won 10-8. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 09: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees in action against the Boston Red Sox in Game Four of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 9, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 4-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 09: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees in action against the Boston Red Sox in Game Four of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 9, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 4-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

CC Sabathia

Sabathia represents one of the toughest emotional decisions of the offseason for the Yankees front office. He’s been an absolute war-horse during his time in the Bronx. Unfortunately, Father Time is starting to take a serious toll on the hefty lefty.

Give Sabathia a ton of credit for totally revamping his game to maintain effectiveness late in his career. He can’t blow hitters away with his fastball anymore. He’s transformed himself into a finesse pitcher that nibbles on the corners to get soft contact. It clearly frustrates him that he can’t reach back and throw it in the mid-90s anymore, but he’s adapted and survived.

The results in 2018 were pretty good. He made 29 starts and posted a very respectable 3.65 ERA. He only managed to throw 153 innings in those starts, but those are still above average numbers for a No. 5 starter.

Sabathia’s health is a big issue here. His massive weight puts a ton of stress on his knees. He missed starts down the stretch in 2018 due to discomfort in the knee. That problem is likely to get worse as time goes on. That’s why we’re betting on Sabathia signing a short-term deal somewhere else this winter. It’s possible he could return to the Yankees, but it’s not the most likely outcome.

Chance of a Yankees return: 20%

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