Former Yankees Ace CC Sabathia Sees World Series Potential in Current Roster

Sabathia believes the Yankees' pitching depth can carry them to a championship despite early injuries.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 5:06pm by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fractured, multi-angle view of a Yankees baseball game, with sharp planes of navy, gray, and white representing the players and field.Former Yankees ace CC Sabathia sees a World Series-caliber roster in the current pinstripe lineup, despite early-season injuries.San Francisco Today

Former New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia, a fan favorite during his playing days, believes the current Yankees team has the potential to win the World Series this season. Speaking on Opening Day, Sabathia praised the team's deep pitching staff, led by aces Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón, and said that the lineup just needs to stay healthy until the injured starters return.

Why it matters

As a respected former Yankee, Sabathia's optimistic assessment of the team's World Series chances carries weight with both the organization and the fanbase. His comments suggest the Yankees have the talent to overcome early-season injuries and contend for a championship.

The details

Sabathia highlighted the strong performances of young pitchers Max Fried and Cam Schlittler to start the season, noting that the Yankees' rotation should be dominant once Cole and Rodón return from the injured list. He believes the lineup's ability to stay healthy will be the key factor in the team's success.

  • The Yankees opened their 2026 season on March 28 with a win over the San Francisco Giants.
  • Sabathia made his comments during the Opening Day broadcast.

The players

CC Sabathia

A former star pitcher for the New York Yankees, Sabathia is a fan favorite and respected voice on the team.

Gerrit Cole

The Yankees' ace pitcher, who is currently working his way back from injury.

Carlos Rodón

Another top starter for the Yankees who is also recovering from an injury.

Max Fried

A young pitcher who has impressed early in the season for the Yankees.

Cam Schlittler

Another young Yankees pitcher who has performed well to start the year.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It feels like a team that can [win a World Series] with all the pitching that they have.”

— CC Sabathia, Former Yankees Pitcher

“It's just about that lineup staying healthy. If Max Fried, Will Warren, and Cam Schlittler can hold it down until Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole get back.”

— CC Sabathia, Former Yankees Pitcher

What’s next

The Yankees will look to continue their strong start to the season as they await the returns of Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón from injury.

The takeaway

As a respected former Yankee, CC Sabathia's optimism about the team's World Series chances this season suggests the current roster has the talent to overcome early-season injuries and contend for a championship, especially once their top pitchers get healthy.