Yankees: C.C. Sabathia preparing for life after retirement

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 21: (EDITOR'S NOTE:SATURATION HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THIS IMAGE) CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during the New York Yankees Photo Day on February 21, 2019 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 21: (EDITOR'S NOTE:SATURATION HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THIS IMAGE) CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during the New York Yankees Photo Day on February 21, 2019 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Though 2019 will be C.C. Sabathia’s final major league season, the Yankees left-hander has already signed on with ESPN as an analyst, which will commence during his retirement tour.

C.C. Sabathia is about to embark on his 19th and final big league season. Just 14 strikeouts away from 3,000 and four wins from 250 on his career, the 11-year Yankees starter is a legitimate candidate for enshrinement in Cooperstown in six years.

However, the big fella is less concerned with the Baseball Hall of Fame and more so with his post-baseball career.

Already heavily involved with his charitable foundation, PitCCH In, in addition to being one-half of the wildly popular podcast ’R2C2′ with Ryan Ruocco, on Tuesday, it was announced that Sabathia would join ESPN throughout the 2019 campaign as a baseball analyst.

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Scheduled to appear on SportsCenter, First Take, Get Up! and ESPN Radio New York’s ‘Humpty & Canty Show,’ the six-time All-Star and 2009 World Series Champion will offer the unique perspective of active player/contributor. Per an ESPN press release:

"“As I begin to look toward the future, I’m excited to have this opportunity with ESPN,” Sabathia said in a statement. “With that said, my singular focus is on winning another World Series Championship for Yankees fans and the city of New York.”"

However, as Sabathia noted on Tuesday from the Yankees minor league facility in Tampa, FLA, he hopes to use his new platform to talk about all sports.

"“I actually don’t want to talk about baseball,” Sabathia said. “I want to talk about other sports. I watch so many other sports, and am a fan of so many other sports, I think it will be fun.”"

Should Sabathia be able to reach at least 27 starts, something he’s done in 17 out of 18 big league seasons, the backend of the Yankee rotation will be in good hands.

Following an offseason angioplasty for a blocked artery, the 38-year-old Sabathia is scheduled to throw his second spring bullpen session on Wednesday.

Despite being suspended for the first five regular-season games of ’19, Sabathia will look to put the finishing touches on a superb playing career while bringing home championship No. 28 — before moving onto other ventures full-time.

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