Who Will Be The Veteran Presence In New York's Clubhouse Now That CC Sabathia Is Retired?

CC Sabathia played nineteen seasons in the Major Leagues.

The left-hander was drafted in the first round of the 1998 Major League Draft by the Cleveland out of Vallejo High School in Vallego California. CC played seven full seasons in Cleveland and part of the 2008 season in Cleveland before finishing out the 2008 season with Milwaukee before heading to New York for eleven seasons including the 2019 season which was his final season in the Major Leagues.

During his time with Cleveland the left-hander compiled 106 wins and 71 losses. After his stint Cleveland he went to Milwaukee where he spent one season where he compiled 11 wins and two losses. “according to https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sabatc.01-pitch.shtml

During his eleven year stint in pinstripes he compiled 134 wins and 88 losses. “according to https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sabatc.01-pitch.shtml and won a world championship in 2009.

In his final season in the Major Leagues the left-hander had difficulty staying healthy as the final outing of his Major League career ended in the American League Championship Series as he exited early from ALCS Game 4; removed from ALCS roster Oct. 18. “according to http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/injuries/#team147

But one thing he also was a veteran player the younger players could go to for advice.

With CC Sabathia no longer in pinstripes, no longer in uniform., no longer playing Major League Baseball who will be the veteran presence in the clubhouse this season for New York once the second training and the regular season begins?

If I had to make a prediction on who the leader or leaders would be this year in the clubhouse I would say the longest tenured player to wear the pinstripes in Brett Gardner or Aaron Judge who has been in the league for a couple years now.

Why?

Because pinstripes is the only uniform Brett Gardner has ever known since coming into the Major Leagues out of the College Of Charleston in 2005 and Aaron Judge has been in the league for three seasons now after being drafted by the team that wears the pinstripes in the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft out of California State University in Fresno California.

Last season Brett Gardner had a 251 batting average with 28 home runs , 74 runs batted in and an on base slugging percentage of 829. “according to https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/29174/brett-gardner while Aaron Judge had a batting average of 272 with 27 home runs, 55 runs batted in and an on base slugging percentage of 921. “according to https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/33192/aaron-judge