MLB Legend CC Sabathia Talks Yankees, Jersey Retirement, 2026 Season and More in B/R Interview

The journey to legendary status at Monument Park in Yankee Stadium was a full-circle one for CC Sabathia.

"The first time I ever got to walk in Monument Park was for a start," the former New York Yankees pitcher told Bleacher Report. "I was starting a game against Roger Clemens and I came out to the bullpen and saw him rubbing on Babe Ruth's forehead, and I'm like, 'oh so I've already lost this game. The game's over.' But to be a part of that history now is an incredible feeling."

Sabathia will become a part of that history prior to the Yankees' Sept. 26 game against the Baltimore Orioles when the team retires his No. 52 and dedicates a plaque in his honor.

The southpaw will become the 24th Yankees player or manager to have a retired number and the fifth member of the 2009 World Series championship team (Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera) to receive such an honor.

That championship came in the first of the 11 seasons Sabathia pitched for the Yankees from 2009 through 2019. While he was a three-time All-Star during that span, he cemented his place in history with a 1.98 ERA during the playoffs on the way to that World Series title.

He was also the 2009 American League Championship Series MVP in the win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

"Having a chance to be honored by such an incredible franchise is great," Sabathia said. "The history of the Yankees coincides with the history of baseball. Just thinking back about the players and putting the numbers on the uniforms and all those different things. Having a chance to have my number retired by this team is something I never dreamed would happen."

It will be a celebration of a dream career that also landed him in the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a first-ballot inductee in the 2025 class, not that it has sunk in nearly a year later.

"It's still surreal," Sabathia said. "Even when I'm signing stuff, I forget to put the Hall of Fame on there. It still seems obnoxious of me to do it, but people want that. I think this summer going back as an actual Hall of Famer and not an inductee will be a lot of fun. I'll just get to be part of the crew. It's the ultimate get together of the best baseball players to ever live. To be a part of that every year going forward for the rest of my life is something I can always look forward to now."

He earned the right to sign Hall of Famer alongside his name with a career that lasted from 2001 through 2019 and included stops on the Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers and Cleveland.

Sabathia remains 47th all-time with 251 wins and 18th all-time with 3,093 strikeouts, which stands out on a resume that also features the 2007 American League Cy Young for Cleveland and six All-Star selections in addition to his accomplishments with New York.

But now he has turned his attention to his next baseball chapter as one of the color commentators for Netflix's live coverage of Wednesday's 2026 season opener between the Yankees and the San Francisco Giants.

Netflix's Opening Night Pregame Show will start at 7 p.m. ET leading into the 8:05 p.m. ET game between two potential contenders that will feature Matt Vasgersian on play-by-play duties with Sabathia and Hunter Pence providing color commentary.

"I'm just a huge baseball fan and I consume a lot of the product," Sabathia said. "I watch a lot of the games, I watch a lot of the media coverage, I listen to it on the radio. To have a chance to actually be a part of that now is exciting. It's something I thought could be in my future, and I'm excited it will be with Netflix."

Netflix is new to live baseball coverage, and the Hall of Famer is ready to show fans what's in store.

"We'll bring unique coverage," he said. "Hunter and I will bring our own perspectives, and we get along really well with him being a hitter and me being a pitcher. Him being the heart and soul of championship teams and playing in San Francisco and me playing in New York, fans will get some insight and different views of how to navigate those cities and what to expect from players and coaches going into the season."

It is fitting the Yankees will be playing in the game given his history with the organization, and expectations are once again high for the Bronx Bombers as they pursue their first World Series title since 2009.

That is an eternity by New York standards considering its record 27 championship rings and consistently star-studded rosters, and it will be looking to take the next step after losing the 2024 World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers and losing in the AL Division Series to the Toronto Blue Jays last year.

But with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. anchoring the lineup and a pitching staff that will be quite deep once Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón return alongside Max Fried and others, anything less than October magic will be disappointing.

"I think the Yankees have a good chance," Sabathia said. "I think a lot of the better teams are in the National League. So with the pitching the Yankees have and bringing back that lineup, I think they have a chance to feast on the American League. I think the Mariners are going to be good, the Rangers have a chance to be good. 

"But overall, especially with the pitching staff getting Gerrit Cole back and getting Carlos Rodón back is going to be huge. I also think getting Clarke Schmidt back is something nobody is really talking about, and I think he can be a huge addition. They have a lot of options with all the pitching they have."

If the season plays out the way Sabathia expects, that pitching will be the only thing standing in the way of a Dodgers' threepeat since he believes New York will face Los Angeles in a World Series showdown between two high-profile teams.

Those aren't the only teams he will be paying attention to, though, as he has plans to watch one superstar in particular for the Kansas City Royals.

"Having a chance to really watch Bobby Witt Jr.," Sabathia said when discussing something he's looking forward to this season. "He plays in Kansas City, and I don't think people have the chance to watch him as much as they should. I plan on making a trip out to Kansas City to watch him play a couple series this year. He is incredible."

Witt is a two-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glover and two-time Silver Slugger who won the batting title in 2024 by hitting .332. He also played unbelievable defense in the World Baseball Classic, which was much appreciated by pitcher and teammate Paul Skenes, and has a chance to become even more of a household name after such a showing on the international stage.

Another thing Sabathia and all baseball fans will have their eye on this season is the introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System after it was previously tested in the Minor Leagues and Spring Training.

Each team starts the game with two challenges, but only the batter, pitcher and catcher can challenge a ball or strike call by tapping on their head. Teams will retain their challenges if the umpire's call is overturned, and they will also receive one challenge per extra inning if they don't have any remaining heading into the 10th.

"I'm excited about the ABS," Sabathia said. "I think it's going to be a good tool for guys. I think for me, I would never tap. I wouldn't have wanted to tap, so I would have left it up to my catchers. Just because I think pitchers are so emotional, we think everything is a strike. So I probably would have just left it up to the guys and trusted them to know the strike zone.

"I think it's going to be good for the game. I know some people were worried about the art of catching and framing pitches, but you only get two challenges. So that art of catching and framing those pitches is still in play."

So fear not, baseball fans. Sabathia is starting the season as a color commentator believing the game will be even better in 2026.