Yankees Manager wants Sabathia to start on injured list

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Wednesday that he expects veteran left-hander CC Sabathia to start the season on the injured list. Sabathia, 38, who is heading into 19th major league season, could miss as many as two starts at the start of the season, pushing his 2019 season debut to the middle of April. Boone told reporters that an offseason angioplasty and knee surgery have delayed Sabathia's preparation for the season.

"Everything is going pretty well," Boone said after the Yankees' 9-5 defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. "He had his second (bullpen) that went well. I certainly don't expect him for the start of the season. It may be a couple of weeks in if everything keeps going according to plan." Even after Sabathia is activated to the roster, he still has to serve a five-game suspension after hitting two Tampa Bay Rays batters in a Sept. 27 game.

"I feel like once I'm facing hitters in (batting practice) or a simulated game, it's going to go pretty quick from there," Sabathia said, according to mlb.com. "I would assume (I will face hitters) maybe in the next couple of weeks. Everything's looking good; no setbacks. The arm, knee, heart -- everything feels good. Just keep pushing." Sabathia has already announced that this will be the final season of his career. He is 246-153 with a 3.70 ERA in 538 starts for the Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers and Yankees. He was 9-7 over 29 starts for the Yankees last season with a 3.65 ERA.

 

(With inputs from agencies.)