CC Sabathia will gladly share center stage.
Though the lefty cherishes the title “Yankees ace,” he also understands Masahiro Tanaka is a major talent — as the Japanese pitcher’s $155 million contract suggests — who could challenge him for top billing among the club’s starting pitchers.
And that’s a good thing, according to Sabathia.
“I’m excited to see what he brings to the team,” Sabathia told The Post at an Airbnb and Roc Nation Super Bowl event Wednesday night in Manhattan. “Anybody who goes 24-0 with a below-2.00 ERA is pretty good, so I am excited to see what happens this year.
“Any time you’ve got a couple of aces — or even Hiro [Kuroda] on the staff, and even if [Ivan] Nova steps up — that is only going to make us better. I am coming back healthy and ready to go, so I’m excited.”
Sabathia had a pedestrian 4.78 ERA last season to go with a 14-13 record. He is noticeably leaner this winter, but insisted he hasn’t dropped weight since the season ended.
Last winter Sabathia shed about 30 pounds, and said it affected his pitching. The goal this time around has been to add muscle.
“Last year, I lost a lot of weight, so I kind of lost a little bit of power,” Sabathia said. “This year it’s all been strength building and worrying about getting better and stronger, so I feel pretty good.”
Sabathia was asked about former teammate Curtis Granderson’s assesment “true New Yorkers” root for the Mets. Granderson last month signed a four-year deal with the Mets worth $60 million after spending three seasons with the Yankees.
“He had to say that, of course, right?” Sabathia said. “The Subway Series will be fun this year.”
After a spending spree in which his team added $503 million in contract commitments, Sabathia said the Yankees are a definite contender for the 2014 World Series trophy.
“You look at who we signed, we’ve got Carlos Beltran and Jacoby Ellsbury addressing the outfield,” Sabathia said. “We’ve got [Brian] McCann behind the plate. I’m excited for this team and where we can go and the possibilities. Keeping healthy for a whole year, I think it will make a big difference.”