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Don’t tell the New York Yankees this, but the New York Yankees are fighting back.
The Yankees’ first lineup of the season Wednesday will bear a striking resemblance to the one that saw the Yankees get eliminated in the American League Division Series last October, and only two players from outside the organization were added to the 26-man roster this offseason: Randall Grichuk and Ryan Weathers.
But despite the massive failure, one Yankee legend completely agrees with the Yankees philosophy.
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New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. (Andy Marlin/USA TODAY Sports)
“I think it’s OK. I think having a chance to get Gerrit Cole back (from Tommy John surgery), to keep Carlos Rodon healthy for a season, to get Clarke Schmidt back (from TJ) would be huge,” CC Sabathia told PK Press Club Digital in a recent interview. “I think with the number of pitches they have, I think that’s what they’re counting on, that their pitching is going to be good, and if the lineup can do pretty much what they did last year, I think they’ll be in a good position.
“A number of the best teams are in the National League. They have a chance to stay healthy, and if they can pitch, they have a chance to get back to the World Series.”
Sabathia will get an up-close look at the Yankees’ opening lineup as he will be in the Oracle Park booth as a Netflix color commentator when the Yanks visit the San Francisco Giants. For the Hall of Fame left-hander who grew up attending Giants games, it’s come full circle.
“Having the chance to come home for a Giants opening day, which I often did with my family, my dad and my uncle,” Sabathia said. “We would do it, on a Monday, I remember many times cutting school and going to the Giants’ opening day at Candlestick Park. So to now be able to come full circle and call the game on my old team’s opening day at home, it’s really cool.”
CC Sabathia tips his hat to the crowd before a ceremony honoring his Hall of Fame induction before the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 7, 2025 in New York, New York. (New York Yankees/Getty Images)
RANGERS PITCHER LEARNS HE MADE OPENING DAY ROSTER DURING GAME
“I thought I would never be here once I retired, but it’s just something that, you know, I’ve done my whole life,” Sabathia added. “I was drafted at 17. I never had another job. So, to be a part of the league office, to work with the Yankees, to be able to do everything that I’m capable of doing, it’s a blessing, and I don’t take it for granted. I’m just super excited to have the chance to still make an impact on the game in retirement.”
If the Yankees want to be successful in October, Aaron Judge will have to be Aaron Judge. The Yankees captain became known for his postseason struggles until hitting .500 with a 1.273 OPS last season. But after going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in the World Baseball Classic finale, the noise is back.
Sabathia, however, rejects most of it.
“I think he’s in the same place, Alex [Rodriguez] I was there when I got here. For me it has already proven itself in October, but people say no. But until he comes out and has the Aaron Judge type of October, people will say he’s not clutch. The year we won in 2009, A-Rod hit some huge home runs. He had a huge October and people gave up on him. So I think that’s what it’s going to take,” Sabathia said.
Aaron Judge and CC Sabathia of the New York Yankees celebrate in the locker room after defeating the Minnesota Twins in the American League Wild Card Game at Yankee Stadium on October 3, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
The Yankees won 94 games last year, tied for first in the American League. However, a tiebreaker gave the division to the Toronto Blue Jays, and they eliminated the Yanks en route to narrowly losing the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
