Sabathia has no intention of retiring after 2017

When CC Sabathia's contract with the New York Yankees comes to its end at the conclusion of the 2017 season, the veteran pitcher doesn't have any plans of walking into the sunset along with it.

The veteran left-hander spoke with Bob Klapisch of NorthJersey.com on Wednesday and said he has no intention of retiring at season's end, and plans to continue pitching "as long as I'm healthy."

"I realize this is a business, man, whatever happens happens," Sabathia added.

The 36-year-old is in the last year of a seven-year, $161-million contract he signed with the Yankees in December 2008. At the time, it was the largest contract ever given to a major-league pitcher.

Sabathia is set to earn $25 million next season amid decreased velocity, no cartilage in his right knee, and a changed lifestyle.

The pitcher battled through issues with alcoholism, which came to the forefront in 2015 when he admitted he couldn't pitch for the Yankees in the American League wild-card game against the Houston Astros because of his alcoholism.

He later entered rehab, and soberly pitched to a respectable 9-12 mark with a 3.91 ERA last season.

If he can remain healthy, Sabathia is expected to slot into the Yankees' starting rotation alongside Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda.

Over the course of his 16 years in the big leagues, Sabathia earned the AL Cy Young award in 2007, accumulated 223 career wins, and sits tops among active pitchers in strikeouts (2,726).