Yankees' CC Sabathia checks into alcohol rehab, will miss playoffs

New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia will check into an alcohol rehabilitation facility, he announced on Monday, and will not pitch in the playoffs.

New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia will check into an alcohol rehabilitation center, he announced in a statement Monday. The veteran lefthander will not pitch in the playoffs.

“Today I am checking myself into an alcohol rehabilitation center to receive the professional care and assistance needed to treat my disease,” Sabathia said. “I love baseball and I love my teammates like brothers, and I am also fully aware that I am leaving at a time when we should all be coming together for one last push toward the World Series. It hurts me deeply to do this now, but I owe it to myself and to my family to get myself right.”

The Yankees will play the Houston Astros in the AL wild-card game Tuesday night. Sabathia has started 29 games for New York this season, going 6–10 with a 4.73 ERA.

“I am looking forward to being out on the field with my team next season playing the game that brings me so much happiness,” Sabathia added.

In a press conference Monday, general manager Brian Cashman called Sabathia’s decision “more than fine.”

“It wasn't expecting that call. I wasn't expecting this type of press conference today," Cashman said. “CC is loved.”

He also noted that the team did not ask Sabathia to hold off treatment on account of the playoffs starting Tuesday.

Manager Joe Girardi, also speaking Monday, said he was taken aback by the news.

Girardi said he was "shocked" to hear CC's admission yesterday in his office. First thing out of CC's mouth was "I need help."

— Erik Boland (@eboland11) October 5, 2015

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Sabathia is under contract with the Yankees through at least 2016, with a vesting option for ‘17.

– Rohan Nadkarni