CC Sabathia exited Sunday’s start in the third inning with a knee injury and the Yankees have placed the struggling former Cy Young winner on the disabled list with inflammation.
When asked if Sabathia is expected to pitch for the Yankees again this season, manager Joe Girardi replied: “Is it possible that he doesn’t pitch the rest of the year? It’s a possibility.”
Sabathia has been a mess since 2013, posting a 5.01 ERA in 64 starts over that span while pitching through a degenerative knee condition that required surgery last July. This season he has a 5.27 ERA in 24 starts, striking out just 7.4 batters per nine innings while serving up 26 home runs.
Sabathia is owed $26 million in 2016, so the Yankees have incentive to keep showing patience with the 35-year-old left-hander, but there’s little reason for them to rush him back this season.