NEW YORK — A few weeks ago, CC Sabathia engaged Sonny Gray in a conversation. It hinged on baseball mortality. The central question: “How long is too long?” It’s an expected topic for a 37-year-old lefty with a faded fastball, a creaky right knee, and an odometer that recently clicked to more than 50,000 pitches thrown in the major leagues. If there was ever a manufacturers’ warranty on Sabathia, it expired before the advent of Twitter.



But the Yankees’ stalwart has acknowledged one thing about his flirtation with retirement after this season, which he has publicly shared and walked back (somewhat). It’s complicated. So much can happen between now and October. Besides, he’s having a blast.



“That’s something I’m going to have to wrestle with,” said Sabathia, whose future seems to get more muddled every time he befuddles an opponent with guile and guts, as he did in Friday night’s 8-1 victory...