UPDATE: According to the latest rumors, CC Sabathia decided to enter rehab after he "more or less went on a bedner from Thursday into Friday and continued on to Saturday" this past weekend in Baltimore, the New York Post reported.
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The New York Yankees will be down another pitcher heading into the 2015 MLB playoffs. Masahiro Tanaka will start the AL Wild Card Game against the Houston Astros on Tuesday, but the rotation is in further question if the team reaches the ALDS.
Starting pitcher CC Sabathia is entering alcohol rehab and will miss the entire postseason, according to multiple reports.
Sabathia says the timing stinks but owes it to himself and family and teammates to check into rehab today
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 5, 2015
#Yankees' Sabathia says in statement that he looks forward to rejoining team next season.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 5, 2015
The Yankees released a statement from Sabathia this afternoon:
"Today I am checking myself into an alcohol rehabilitation center to receive the professional care and assistance needed to treat my disease.
"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. I want to take control of my disease, and I want to be a better man, father and player.
"I want to thank the New York Yankees organization for their encouragement and understanding. Their support gives me great strength and has allowed me to move forward with this decision with a clear mind.
"As difficult as this decision is to share publicly, I don't want to run and hide. But for now please respect my family's need for privacy as we work through this challenge together.
"Being an adult means being accountable. Being a baseball player means that others look up to you. I want my kids - and others who may have become fans of mine over the years - to know that I am not too big of a man to ask for help. I want to hold my head up high, have a full heart and be the type of person again that I can be proud of. And that's exactly what I am going to do.
"I am looking forward to being out on the field with my team next season playing the game that brings me so much happiness."
Earlier this year it was reported that Sabathia had been involved in a street fight outside of a Toronto nightclub following a matchup against the Blue Jays. The left-hander said he "just flipped out" and was "caught at a bad time."
This decision by Sabathia leaves the Yankees starting pitching even more thin. They're already expected to be without Nathan Eovaldi, and manager Joe Girardi will have to now decide who will take Sabathia's place if the team were to make the ALDS.
Sabathia, 35, was 6-10 with a 4.73 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 137 strikeouts in 29 starts this season. He has an overall postseason record of 9-5 with a 4.53 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 101 strikeouts in 19 games (18 starts).
