Bronx, NY

CC Sabathia, who has gone 59-23 with a 3.18 ERA during the regular season for New York, opted to remain in the Bronx for a reworked contract deal totaling $122 million over the next five years.

He signed a seven-year, $161 million contract before the 2009 season but could have opted out of the pact to test the free agent waters. Instead the Yanks keep one of baseball's top pitchers in the fold.

Sabathia had until Monday to decide whether to opt out of the $92 million and four years remaining on his current deal.

According to various reports the Yankees made their offer to Sabathia over the weekend. Sabathia was believed to be likely to test the free-agent waters before accepting any deal.

C.J. Wilson, Edwin Jackson and Mark Buehrle will definitely be sought after by teams to bolster rotations, but the 31-year-old Sabathia is an inning-eating ace who has won no fewer than 19 games and pitched no less that 230 innings in his three seasons in New York.

His only issues continue to be his fluctuating weight and mixed results in the postseason.

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