Yanks paid Sabathia $500K bonus despite falling 2 innings short due to ejection

CC Sabathia's late-season ejection didn't cost him any bonus money after all.

The New York Yankees paid Sabathia the $500,000 bonus in his previous contract despite the veteran left-hander falling two innings short of the requisite total after being ejected in his final start of the year, according to Ronald Blum of the Associated Press.

On Sept. 27, with the Yankees up 11-0, Sabathia hit Tampa Bay Rays catcher Jesus Sucre in the leg with a pitch and was immediately given the boot by home-plate umpire Vic Carapazza. The hit-by-pitch was intentional and was in retaliation after the Rays beaned a Yankee hitter earlier in the game. Sabathia exchanged words with the Rays' dugout as he left the field.

As a result of the ejection, Sabathia finished his 2018 season having thrown 153 innings - exactly two frames shy of the total he needed to trigger the $500,000 bonus clause.

Ultimately, the Yankees chose to pay Sabathia the bonus anyway, though general manager Brian Cashman told Blum the action was meant to be "very private." The payment was only discovered by the Associated Press after the team listed it in its 2018 luxury-tax paperwork.

"We thought it was a very nice gesture by the Yankees," Sabathia’s agent, Kyle Thousand, said. "CC was very appreciative and is really excited to come back next year and, hopefully, win a championship."

The 38-year-old Sabathia recently announced he'll retire after the coming season. He's pitched for the Yankees since 2009.