Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia feared for his career

CC Sabathia will miss the rest of the season with a right knee injury, but he will not need microfracture surgery, which greatly relieved the big lefty.

CC Sabathia will miss the rest of the season with a right knee injury, but he will not need microfracture surgery, which greatly relieved the big lefty.

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"I was very concerned," Sabathia said on Saturday about the possibility of microfracture surgery, according to ESPNNewYork.com's Andrew Marchand. "I told my wife last night, 'My season is over, but it was the first time I was able to get some real sleep,' just knowing that I don't have to have the microfracture and I can return next year."

Sabathia, who turns 34 on Monday, will have arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday, performed by Dodgers team doctor Neal ElAttrache. He should be ready for spring training, according to ElAttrache.

Sabathia, who has two years, $48 million left on his contract (and another $25 million more in 2017 if he avoids a shoulder injury), finishes his 2014 season with a 3-4 record and a career-high 5.28 ERA in eight starts.

He'll need six to eight weeks of recovery time from the surgery.

"[Oklahoma City Thunder guard] Russell Westbrook had the same surgery and was able to come back," Sabathia said. "Obviously, you have to deal with a little bit of swelling here and there, but that is something I have to deal with. My goal is to pitch the next five or six years, past this contract. I'm confident that I can do that."

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on Friday that the 14-year veteran will eventually need the microfracture surgery.

Sabathia, the 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner, is 208-119 with a 3.63 ERA in his career for the Indians, Brewers and Yankees.

- Chris Mascaro