New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia ejected in move that could cost him $500,000
NEW York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia has potentially cost himself half a million bucks for defending a teammate — before unleashing a verbal barrage on his opponents.
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CC Sabathia protected his teammates, not his wallet.
The 38-year-old left-hander got his 246th win and moved the New York Yankees closer to hosting next week’s AL wild-card game but may have cost himself a $US500,000 bonus.
Sabathia was ejected from Thursday’s 12-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the sixth inning for hitting Jesus Sucre on a leg in retaliation for Tampa Bay reliever Andrew Kittredge throwing a pitch behind Austin Romine.
Tensions getting high as CC Sabathia is ejected after hitting a batter.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 27, 2018
(via @FOXSportsFL) pic.twitter.com/WJMw04Sri0
As Sabathia walked off the mound, he reportedly pointed toward the Rays’ dugout and yelled, “That’s for you bitch.”
Making his final regular-season start, Sabathia had thrown 55 pitches over five innings to raise his season innings total to 153 — two shy of a $US500,000 performance bonus in his contract.
“I don’t really make decisions based on money, I guess,” Sabathia said.
“I just felt like it was the right thing to do.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone didn’t rule out Sabathia getting into a game this weekend in Boston.
“That’s definitely above my pay grade,” Boone said when asked whether New York should still pay the bonus.
New York (98-61) ensured its winningest season since going 103-59 en route to the 2009 World Series title and moved two games ahead of Oakland (96-63) for hosting the Oct. 3 wild-card game.
The Yankees hold the tiebreaker, which means one more Yankees win or Athletics loss ensures the winner-take-all game would be in the Bronx.
The wild-card winner advances to a Division Series against AL East champion Boston.
Originally published as New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia ejected in move that could cost him $500,000
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