. "I think he'd like to stay Tug McGraw Jersey , and"Sabathia also reportedly wasn't interested in leaving New York, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com:Mark Feinsand FeinsandSabathia took less money to come back to the Yankees and had no interest in testing the market. While he isnt saying this will be his final year by any means, his family is firmly planted in the New York area and, ideally, he would like to ultimately retire as a Yankee.His signing comes just hours after Jon Heyman of Fancred reported the team would be exploring trades for veteran pitchers like Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and James Paxton and would consider signing Patrick Corbin in free agency and re-signing Sabathia and J.A. Happ.After the 2018 season, only Masahiro Tanaka and Luis Severino seemed like locks to return to the rotation. Yankees managing partner Hal Steinbrenner said on The Michael Kay Show in October that he wasn't thrilled with the team's starters following a disappointing postseason."Our starting pitchers, except for Tanaka, they were not good," Steinbrenner said (h/t MLB.com). "All of a sudden, your hitters are down three Drew Hutchison Jersey , four, five, six runs in inning three or four, and it really puts the pressure on them and changes the dynamics somewhat of the whole process. Their pitchers get emboldened, so that just makes it makes it more difficult."Sabathia's return means he'll hold down a spot in the back end of the team's rotation in 2019, barring a major regression. Sabathia may no longer be the top-end ace who was a six-time All-Star and won the AL Cy Young in 2007, but he remains a nice veteran option for the Yankees who can still provide quality innings. For the Pittsburgh Pirates, the final weekend of a better-than-expected season is a time to say not only goodbye but also hello. Perhaps to the same player.For the Cincinnati Reds, the final weekend of a worse-than-expected season is a time to begin looking ahead and not back at yet another frustrating year.The National League Central rival Pirates and Reds wrap up their three-game series and the season Sunday at Great American Ball Park, with both teams already focusing on 2019. But not before the Pirates conclude some unfinished business.Article continues below ...During a 3-0 loss to the Reds on Saturday, the Pirates’ infield had the look of a few seasons ago with Jung Ho Kang at third base Larry Bowa Jersey , Jordy Mercer at shortstop and Josh Harrison at second base. But the once-familiar infield might be together only one more day.Kang, troubled by injuries and legal issues the last two seasons, started in the majors for the first time since Oct. 2, 2016, and went 1-for-4. Kang could return next season as the Pirates hold a $5.5 million club option on him, or they could decline the option and attempt to re-sign him for less money.Mercer, however, is a pending free agent who appears unlikely to return, and the Pirates can buy out Harrison’s contract for $1 million instead of paying him $10.5 million in 2019.“He (Kang) worked hard to try and put himself in position to come back before the season ended,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “I think we want to honor that responsibility and the work that he put in to get back here.”Before losing Saturday, the Pirates (81-79) had won nine of 13 overall http://www.philliesfanproshop.com/authentic-jim-bunning-jersey , a push that guaranteed them a winning season, plus seven in a row and nine of 10 against Cincinnati. The Reds (67-94) halted a six-game losing streak that came amid a late-season run of 11 losses in 14 games.Reds right-hander Michael Lorenzen (4-2, 3.11 ERA), trying to make the transition from a reliever to a starter, shut out the Pirates on five hits in 5 2/3 innings Saturday. It was the second time in Lorenzen’s three late-season starts that he didn’t permit an earned run. He also contributed an RBI single, and Eugenio Suarez hit his 34th homer and his second in as many games.“He (Lorenzen) certainly factors in (the 2019 plans),” Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman said.Sal Romano (8-11, 5.37 ERA), another Reds right-hander who hopes to make the 2019 rotation, will make his first start since Aug. 21 on Sunday. In nine games as a reliever this month, Romano has a 5.19 ERA Jim Thome Jersey , with five earned runs allowed in 8 2/3 innings.During his last time out as a starter, Romano allowed five runs and seven hits in five innings of the Reds’ 9-7 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. He didn’t figure in the decision. Romano is 1-2 with a 3.08 ERA in six career games (four starts) against the Pirates.For now, it’s too early to forecast what role he’ll play next season.“Our guys (pitchers) are competing like crazy, they’re working their tails off,” Riggleman said. “But we’ve got to make a few changes pitching-wise.”The Pirates hand the ball to rookie right-hander Clay Holmes (1-3, 7.25 ERA), who makes his fourth career start. Holmes made his major league debut against Cincinnati on April 6, allowing one run in two relief innings.Reliever Steven Brault said he believes the Pirates exceeded expectations in 2018 after losing 87 games last season. Their record, for example, is nearly identical to that of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who were in first place in the NL West at the start of September.“I would say we surpassed expectations this year. We did some really good things http://www.philliesfanproshop.com/authentic-scott-kingery-jersey ,” Brault told the team’s website. “We were inconsistent as a club, individually, everything. That’s why we have the record we do. (But) I think we held our own really well this year.”For the Reds, 2018 was more of the same. They began the season by losing 15 of 18 and never recovered. Even if they win Sunday, they will lose at least 94 games for a fourth consecutive season.The Reds are 5-13 against the Pirates this season.