Sabathia walks back retirement plan, may return if Yankees win World Series

In early May, CC Sabathia said he's likely retiring if the New York Yankees win the World Series. Now the veteran southpaw is having second thoughts.

"If we win the World Series and I pitch well and I'm healthy at the end of the year, then it's 50-50 that I come back," Sabathia told Marc Carig of The Athletic. "It's not an absolute."

The 37-year-old's hesitation stems from how much fun the Yankees have been having this year. Currently in a dead heat for first place in the AL East with their bitter rival, the Boston Red Sox, the 53-26 Yankees are on a 109-win pace.

"You have fun when you win, of course, yeah. But it's this group of guys," Sabathia added after holding the Red Sox to one run over seven innings on Friday night.

"From the pools that we do to just hanging out and going to dinners, it's a group of guys that all get along. It's rare to have that. So, I want to be around it as long as possible."

Regarding his other criteria - that he pitches well and remains healthy - 2018 has been an encouraging season for the veteran.

Sabathia will turn 38 next month in his 18th season, and he owns a 3.02 ERA over 15 starts. Among Yankees starters, Sabathia only trails ace Luis Severino in innings pitched and FanGraphs' WAR.