CC Sabathia threw 16 pitches off a bullpen mound Friday afternoon in his first extended work session of camp.
The Yankees have limited the veteran left-hander’s work schedule after he underwent right knee surgery and had a stent placed in a heart artery during the offseason.
Because he is suspended for the first five games of the regular season, Sabathia doesn’t have to be ready for the first turn through the rotation.
Nevertheless, with Luis Cessa, Domingo German and Jonathan Loaisiga serving as rotation depth, the Yankees need a healthy Sabathia to pitch like he has for the past three seasons because that trio is largely unproven as starters.