The New York Yankees have a predicament on their hands. The team currently has CC Sabathia on the payroll through the 2017 season, making over $23 million each year and yet he is no longer playing to his money. The Yankees might be sitting in first place at the All-Star break, but if there is one dark spot on the roster it is the former ace who simply no longer looks like his dominant self. With the trade deadline quickly approaching, what do the Yankees do about Sabathia?
According to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post, Sabathia must prove to the Yankees they do not need to trade for an upgrade. With the deadline approaching on July 31, the pitcher must prove that he deserves to remain in the lineup for the long-term, something he is failing to do thus far. Sabathia is coming off a start that saw him get a win for the first time in four appearances while pitching just five innings and giving up two runs and seven hits. However, he still has an ERA of 5.47 while inconsistencies and now knee issues become a problem. According to general manager Brian Cashman, Sabathia is going nowhere despite recent reports.
"That's not something that we're considering at this moment," Cashman said, via ESPNNewYork.com. "We're going to continue to give him every opportunity to work through this for the foreseeable future. He's still competing and finding himself. I think early on he had not the best of luck or run support."
According to the Post, Sabathia might not be going anywhere, but the Yankees might still eye pitchers at the trade deadline. The team is being linked to a number of players that could easily be inserted into the lineup and fix the dipping ERA. The question is just how big the Yankees are willing to go. The Boston Globe has linked to the team to manageable trades like Cole Hamels or Johnny Cueto while they could go big for David Price or James Shields depending on how big they see the need.
The Yankees also have injury concerns with Ivan Nova who is clearly struggling since coming back from Tommy John surgery. The pitcher has seen his numbers continuously dip and while he has stressed to the media that he is healthy, there is a lot of doubt that is not the case. Taking Nova would be easier than removing Sabathia.
