New York Yankees make things right with CC Sabathia

CC Sabathia finished the year just two innings shy of earning a $500,000 bonus. The New York Yankees gave it to him anyway.

New York Yankees starter CC Sabathia had a choice to make last year. Rays pitcher Andrew Kittredge had thrown a pitch behind Austin Romine at the top of the sixth inning, inflaming tensions between both sides. As Sabathia strode out to the mound for the bottom of the inning, he had a decision to make – to retaliate, or to try to get six more outs to earn a $500,000 bonus.

In the end, it was not much of a choice for Sabathia to make. He chose his teammates and the franchise that he had been a part of for a decade, drilling Jesus Sucre to lead off that part of the frame. Sabathia was ejected, and showed the Rays dugout exactly what he thought of them as he exited the diamond.

After Sabathia did right by his teammates, the Yankees are doing right by Sabathia. Even though he did not earn that bonus, the Yankees are paying it to him anyway, a token of appreciation for a pitcher that has meant so much to the franchise.

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It has been an up and down run for Sabathia in New York. He had looked like a star, and looked like he was done. Along the way, he reinvented himself, becoming a solid innings eater who battled every fifth day. Overall, that journey has been successful, as Sabathia has posted a 129-80 record, along with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.264 WHiP over his 1810.2 innings in the Bronx.

Sabathia has been a treasured teammate, and not just from hitting Sucre. He has been a solid veteran presence, a mentor to the younger pitchers and a clubhouse leader. The Yankees are certainly glad to have him back for one final year in 2019, as he embarks on what he says will be his final major league campaign.

That gratitude for Sabathia’s services had to pay a part in the payout. The Yankees were not looking for publicity, handing him the check quietly. In fact, the only reason that payout even came to light is because the Yankees submitted their final luxury tax payroll, with that bonus included.

CC Sabathia did right by his teammates. Understandably, the New York Yankees reciprocated, and did right by the veteran lefty.