MLB hires CC Sabathia as special assistant

Major League Baseball announced this afternoon they’ve hired six-time All-Star CC Sabathia as a special assistant to commissioner Rob Manfred. According to the league, the role was specifically created for Sabathia and will see the 41-year-old work in “player relations, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, social responsibility, youth participation, and broadcasting.”

Since hanging up his spikes, Sabathia has served as a vice president with the Players Alliance, a nonprofit organization aimed at increasing accessibility within the sport for Black athletes. He has also appeared on the MLB Network and co-hosts a baseball podcast with Ryan Ruocco for The Ringer.

“We are excited to have CC Sabathia join the Commissioner’s Office to work on some of our most important initiatives,” commissioner Rob Manfred said in a press release. “We welcome CC’s positive energy, strong character, creative mind, and civic-minded approach in building on our efforts to strengthen the game, diversify the sport, and give back to the community. CC has a powerful voice in Baseball and we value the perspective he will bring to our office.”

Sabathia made a statement of his own in the aforementioned release. “I’m looking forward to sharing my viewpoint as a former Major League player with the Commissioner’s Office,” Sabathia said. “I want to be able to continue to give back to the game that I love so much. This new role gives me the opportunity to continue the work I’m passionate about, be an advocate for players and be able to contribute to the decision-making process of the league office after 19 years on the field. I can’t wait to get started.”

Sabathia, of course, is one of the most accomplished pitchers in recent memory. He spent 19 seasons in the big leagues, suiting up with the Indians, Brewers and Yankees. The southpaw eclipsed 3,500 career innings and fanned more than 3,000 batters. Sabathia finished in the top five of Cy Young balloting on five separate occasions, taking home the award with Cleveland in 2007. He posted an ERA below 3.50 in every season from 2006-12, surpassing 190 frames in all seven years. Sabathia will add a decorated resume and, of greater import, a respected voice to the league office in a variety of roles.