The Yankees could be moving closer to dropping CC Sabathia from their starting rotation, ESPN.com reported.
Sabathia and veteran Ivan Nova entered spring training fighting for the last spot among New York's starters, and — barring injury before opening day — manager Joe Girardi will be forced to move one of them to the bullpen.
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"This is a hard decision," Joe Girardi said. "CC has meant so much to this club. Nova has been here. It is something that has to be well thought out."
Nova was on the mound to start the Yankees exhibition Friday against Baltimore in Sarasota, Fla.
New York's first four starters shape up as Masahiro Tanaka, Nathan Eovaldi, Michael Pineda and Luis Severino. That leaves Sabathia and Nova, who the Yankees were unable to trade this offseason, battling for the last slot.
Fighting for the No. 5 spot in a rotation is a different situation for the six-time All-Star and 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner, although his ERA hasn't been below 4.73 the past three seasons.
Context on Girardi's decision: Sabathia is slated to be paid $25 million in 2016, with an easy-to-attain $25 million option for 2017.
The veteran left-hander left the team in October last year to enter alcohol rehab as the Yankees battled for a playoff spot in Baltimore. He entered spring training saying he is sober and personally in the best spot he has been in in years.
