TAMPA — There is no doubt in CC Sabathia’s mind he remains the Yankees’ ace.
Asked on Friday at Steinbrenner Field whether he was still the Yankees ace, the slimmed-down Sabathia didn’t hesitate.
“Of course,’’ Sabathia told The Post. “I thought that was funny. I laughed at that. I was waiting for that question.’’
In an interview with The Post’s Mike Puma earlier this month, general manager Brian Cashman hesitated to name Sabathia the team’s ace.
“CC is the leader of our staff, but obviously after last year, I don’t know if you can consider him in that [Clayton] Kershaw category, but he is the leader of the staff,” Cashman said.
It’s one thing to be a leader, it’s quite another to be an ace. Sabathia wants to show everyone he remains an ace.
That would be thrilling news to Cashman and the Yankees, who have reloaded in a big way this offseason, adding Japanese pitching star Masahiro Tanaka, catcher Brian McCann, center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and switch-hitting slugger Carlos Beltran.
Sabathia, 33, was extremely disappointed in how he let down the Yankees last season, when he compiled a 14-13 record and a 4.78 ERA.
So this offseason, he went to work, became stronger. He lost a lot of weight last year before and during the season, but he also lost strength, which is why he ran out of gas in games.
Sabathia weighs in at about 275 pounds now, a weight he has not seen since his days with the Indians.
“I really lost all the weight last year,’’ Sabathia said. “I went from 315 to like 280. I felt I lost a little bit of power last year. This year was all about getting stronger, gaining strength and being able to go out and pitch.
“When I checked in last spring I was probably 285-290.”
He was lighter, but weaker.
“I was just joking with [trainer] Stevie [Donohue], I felt like the Biggest Loser last year,’’ Sabathia said. “I lost a lot of weight but I wasn’t physically ready to play.
Sabathia opted to lose that weight for health reasons.
“To be around my family, be around my kids,’’ explained the family man. “I had a cousin pass away [in December 2012] that was pretty young from heart disease. It was really about that.”
A lot was made on the Internet about the pounds he has shed.
“I didn’t think people would care that much. Whatever,” Sabathia said. “Everybody was like mad at me, that’s why I went on ‘First Take’ and I brought Cap’n Crunch with me, just to let them know I’m still eating. Just not as much. Not two boxes at a time.’’
Sabathia was asked if he was superstitious about losing all that weight.
“I think being a fat guy is a little different than wearing the same glove,’’ Sabathia said with a laugh. “Let’s see this year. I feel like I did two years ago, a lot stronger. My arm feels a lot better. I just feel healthy. I can tell the difference when I throw, just a little more power.
“[Last year] sticks with me a lot, being disappointed and not being able to help this team win. I feel like if I could have been a little better, we might have made the playoffs. I’ve blamed myself for a long time in the offseason and now I’m over it and I’m ready to go this year.’’
He expects his velocity to bump up.
“But I don’t think it matters,” Sabathia said. “I think I’ve proved that I can pitch without 96-97 [mph].”
As for Derek Jeter’s decision to retire after this season, Sabathia said he was “saddened.”
“You want a guy like that to play forever,’’ he said.
He’s excited with the changes the Yankees have made and the changes he has made in his life.
“I had a bad year,’’ he said.
It’s time for CC Sabathia to show he’s an ace again.