Yankees: CC Sabathia has been cleared to begin baseball activities

Back in early December CC Sabathia underwent heart surgery, but the expectation was that he would fully recover and be ready for spring training. On Tuesday, the Yankees announced that CC had a followup stress test and has been cleared to begin working out and resume baseball activities.

This is great news for CC and the Yankees. We’re now just five weeks away until pitchers and catchers report for spring training so the veteran should have enough time to prepare for what is set to be his 19th and final season in the big leagues.

CC is expected to retire at the end of the season so you know he wants to go out with a bang and help lead the Yankees to their 28th championship. Despite the recent health scare right now CC is penciled in as the team’s fifth starter in the rotation which says a lot about how much the Yankees have improved their starting staff so far this offseason. After trading for James Paxton and re-signing J.A. Happ the rotation should be a strength in 2019 after it was arguably their biggest downfall last season especially in October.

Even though CC is still on track to make a full recovery before spring training the Yankees have held on to Sonny Gray who was expected by many to be traded this offseason. It’s still very likely Gray does get moved but with CC’s health concerns there’s a chance he’s still with the club once spring rolls around.

GM Brian Cashman spoke to reporters last week about how CC’s situation has slowed down his conversations with other clubs regarding a potential trade for Gray. Per Kevin Kernan of the New York Post:

“The CC circumstance certainly has given us pause because we want to make sure we are covered and protected,’’ Cashman said. “When it developed it slowed down my conversations with intent because we had to see how this played out first. Once [Sabathia] has these follow-up appointments, I’ll be in a much better position to either fully engage the conversations we’ve had or continue to slow-walk it while we make sure CC’s health is taken care of, that is first and foremost.’’

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Cashman announced early on in the offseason that it was in the team’s and Gray’s best interest to find him a new home. Although, until the Yanks are certain that CC’s health issues are behind him it makes sense to hold onto Gray for the time being. Tuesday’s news was a step in the right direction but the Yankees don’t really have another starter to turn to other than Gray in the event CC’s not ready for the start of the regular season.

The organization’s top pitching prospect Jonathan Loaisiga could be an option as the year progresses but he’ll probably have to start his season at Triple-A. Domingo German could also fill in after he had some positive moments during 14 starts in 2018, but he might be of better use pitching out of the pen.

Gray has pretty much been a disaster in his season and a half with the Yankees (especially at home), but he is a starting pitcher nonetheless and there’s enough trade interest in him to believe he still has the tools to be successful. Whether he can in New York is still up for debate but I don’t think it would be the worst thing if he reported to Tampa with the intention to start the season in the rotation if CC suffers another setback.

If CC doesn’t then, by all means, the Yankees should trade him to the team who offers the best return and roll with the starting rotation they’ve put together this offseason.