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Don’t tell the New York Yankees this, but the New York Yankees are running it back.
The Yankees’ first lineup of the season Wednesday will bear a striking resemblance to the one that saw the Yankees 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 is good for the Yankees’ philosophy.
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New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. (Andy Marlin/USA TODAY Sports)
“I think it’s fine. I think it would be huge to have a chance to get Gerrit Cole back (from Tommy John surgery), to have Carlos Rodon healthy for a season, to have Clarke Schmidt back (from TJ),” CC Sabathia told Pakinomist Digital in a recent interview. “I think with the amount of pitching that they have, I think that’s what they’re counting on their pitching to be good, and if the lineup can do about what they did last year, I think they’ll be in a good spot.
“A bunch of the better 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 see the first Yankees lineup up close as he will be in the Oracle Park booth as a color commentator on Netflix when the Yanks visit the San Francisco Giants. For the left-handed Hall of Famer who grew up going to Giants games, it’s a full-circle moment.
“Having a chance to go home for a Giants opening day, which is something I did a lot with my family, my dad and my uncle,” Sabathia said. “We would, on a Monday, I remember several times I’ve cut school and gone to the Giants opening day at Candlestick Park. So it’s really cool to be able to now come full circle and call the opening day game for my former team at home.”
CC Sabathia tips his hat to the crowd before a ceremony honoring his Hall of Fame induction prior to 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 PLAN DURING GAME
“I thought I’d never be in the game when I retired, but it’s just something that you know, I’ve been doing it my whole life,” Sabathia added. “Got drafted at 17 and I’ve never had any other jobs. So being part of the league office, working with the Yankees, being able to do all the things that I’m able to do, it’s a blessing and I don’t take it for granted. Just super excited to have a chance to still impact the game when I retire.”
If the Yankees want to find October success, Aaron Judge will have to be Aaron Judge. The Yankees captain became notorious for his postseason struggles until he hit .500 with a 1.273 OPS last season. But after an 0-for-4 showing with three strikeouts in the World Baseball Classic finale, the noise is back.
However, Sabathia rejects most of it.
“I think he’s in the same place Alex [Rodriguez] was with when I came here. For me, he already proved himself in October, but people say he doesn’t have it. But until he goes out and has the Aaron Judge month of October, people will say he’s not clutch. The year we won in ’09, A-Rod hit some big homers. He had a huge October and people got off his back. So I think that’s what it takes,” 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 City. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
The Yankees won 94 games last year, tied for the most in the American League. However, a tiebreaker gave the Toronto Blue Jays the division and they knocked off the Yanks en route to just losing the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
