Umpire Costs Yankees’ CC Sabathia $500,000 With Ejection

New York's ace was tossed two innings short of earning a hefty bonus.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 27: New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (52) yells at the Rays dugout after being ejected from the game for hitting Tampa Bay Rays catcher Jesus Sucre (45) in the 6th inning. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 27: New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (52) yells at the Rays dugout after being ejected from the game for hitting Tampa Bay Rays catcher Jesus Sucre (45) in the 6th inning. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

You’re out … $500,000.

That’s basically what MLB umpire Vic Carapazza could have said to New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia when he tossed him in the sixth inning of Thursday afternoon’s game at Tropicana Field.

To earn a $500,000 incentive-based bonus, Sabathia needed to pitch 155 innings and he was just two innings short of that when Carapazza ejected him for plunking Tampa Bay Rays catcher Jesus Sucre in the leg with a 92.5 mph cutter.

Carapazza had already issued warnings to the team after a Tampa Bay pitcher intentionally threw at someone on the Yanks.

“I don’t really make decisions based on money, I guess,” Sabathia said after New York’s 12-1 win over the Rays. “Just felt like it was the right thing to do.”

Before being tossed, Sabathia allowed just one hit and struck out five on just 55 pitches.

Asked whether New York should still pay the bonus to the 18-year veteran, New York manager Aaron Boone quipped: “That’s definitely above my pay grade.”

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