"If Russell Martin has his way, he will be back behind the plate for the Yankees next year, catching CC Sabathia. But neither player is guaranteed to return to The Bronx in 2012.

"There's no question that I want him on my team," Martin said of Sabathia, who can opt out of his contract this offseason. "He's an ace. They're hard to come by. . . . But he's got to make his own decisions."

Martin said he hopes Sabathia and the Yankees decide to stay together.

"For being a power guy, he's pretty crafty, so to have both of those qualities of being able to pick your corners and really pitch and have good stuff, that's a combination you don't see very often," Martin said as he drove out of The Stadium yesterday. "He's pretty smart out there, as well.""