• Loading stock data...
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here

CC Sabathia Lands at The Ringer and Spotify with Exclusive Audio Deal

  • Sabathia’s “R2C2” podcast with broadcaster Ryan Ruocco moved to The Ringer on July 28.
  • The former Cy Young winner got into the TV and radio business with a one-year deal at ESPN in his final season, but prefers more unfiltered mediums.
CC Sabathia Lands at The Ringer and Spotify with Exclusive Audio Deal
Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Former Cy Young winner CC Sabathia was announced as the latest addition to The Ringer and Spotify on July 28, signaling a further push into the sports space for the audio streaming giant and the growing potential in podcasts for athletes.

“R2C2,” the three-year-old podcast featuring the six-time All-Star and broadcaster Ryan Ruocco, will release one or two episodes per week year-round. The duo chat with athlete and celebrity guests about a wide range of topics – including the current MLB season – and comment on the sports world at large.

Previously, “R2C2” spent time at The Players’ Tribune and Uninterrupted, both dedicated athlete empowerment platforms founded by superstar players. But the podcast has even bigger aspirations. 

“Obviously, exposure and growth are big catalysts here,” said Mark Lepselter, Sabathia’s agent and principal at Maxx Sports & Entertainment Group. “And I think that CC has a competitive nature and certainly wants to see the podcast grow and expand its reach. … Giving it the ability to have more branding behind it, more advertising behind it, more, resources behind it.”

In September 2019, Spotify began ramping up its sports content. The company hired former CBS News president David Rhodes as a consultant to develop its original audio programming strategy, and brought on former Facebook head of sports media partnerships Amy Hudson to lead sports podcasting efforts.

Then in February, the company acquired Bill Simmons’ sports and pop-culture outlet The Ringer for approximately $200 million. As of January 2019, the company’s podcast network built around Simmons’ flagship show drew 35 million downloads per month. 

Podcasting is an ideal outlet for the 40-year-old Sabathia, who got into the TV and radio business with a one-year deal at ESPN in his final season as an active ballplayer for the New York Yankees. The new deal keeps Sabathia’s audio exclusive to the two companies, spans multiple years, and includes other forthcoming content with Spotify and The Ringer, Lepselter said.

While he is free to seek out a new TV gig, which is the typical route for players of his caliber with media acumen, Sabathia said on Simmons’ podcast July 28 that it’s unlikely he’ll do so in a traditional way because of his predilection for using colorful language. Inherent to any new ventures will be an ability for Sabathia to be himself. 

“He’s got a charismatic personality, but to go along with that charismatic personality, he’s a no-bulls— kind of guy, and I think people respect who he is as a person, what he accomplished as an athlete, and what he stands for overall,” Lepselter added. “I think that ties into why he’s an interesting listen, on the podcast in particular, but on other platforms overall – in interviews and different things that he’s done, and is doing, and will do in the future.”

The Ringer has brought in multiple established sports shows and talent since the Spotify deal, deviating to an extent from its earlier mode of creating new shows for its internal, often homegrown talent. 

In June, the podcast network added “Stadio” – a global soccer podcast founded in August 2019 by Berlin-based bloggers Ryan Hunn and Musa Okwonga – and a podcast from baseball bloggers Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman, known for their work as the “Cespedes Family BBQ” for Cut4 and DAZN. 

“When an opportunity to add a show with a proven track record like R2C2 presented itself, we jumped at the opportunity,” a spokesman for The Ringer said. “CC and Ryan are excellent hosts, whose baseball insight has immediately made our network stronger.”

Adding a podcast with a well-known athlete, like “R2C2,” also isn’t without precedent at The Ringer. 

In 2019, the company debuted “Winging It” with NBA players Vince Carter and Kent Bazemore – the latter left after the first season and Carter has since retired from playing, but continues to do the show. NBA veteran JJ Redick also has a Ringer podcast, which moved to the network from Uninterrupted in 2017.

On August 3, the company announced the addition of a weekly “The Ringer NBA Show” podcast episode with staff writer Logan Murdock, a new hire, and retired NBA veteran Raja Bell.

But, Sabathia – who also recently joined Roots of Fight to create a clothing line to honor Black baseball icons – has looked to carve out an alternate route in the modern sports media landscape, on his terms.  

“I think he’s going to be a guy who’s a content creator who fits where the space is going right now,” Lepselter added. “He’s a real guy and I think people know that – it’s clear. There’s no fraud to CC Sabathia.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Terry Rozier

NBA Strongly Denies Quietly Suspending Terry Rozier in 2023

Brian Windhorst appeared to walk back his comments Friday morning.
exclusive

Some ESPN Producers Fed Up With McAfee’s ‘Diva’ Behavior: Sources

The “College GameDay” host has powerful allies.
YouTube/ Multiple streaming services appear on a Roku TV.

YouTube in Another Carriage Dispute, This Time With Disney

ESPN and ABC could be dropped from the No. 4 U.S. pay-TV distributor.
Brian Windhorst

Brian Windhorst Details Emergency Landing on Omaha–L.A. Flight

The pilots and flight attendants had a communication issue.

Featured Today

Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
October 18, 2025

How Vanderbilt Went From SEC Doormat to Dark Horse CFP Candidate

After beating LSU, Clark Lea said: “Internally, we expect to win.”
Oct 21, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) keeps the ball away from Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the second half at Paycom Center

NBA’s NBC Return Draws 5.9M Viewers, Best Opener Since 2010

Thunder vs. Rockets peaked at 7.1 million viewers.
October 22, 2025

YouTube Stars Help Bring Back Golf Channel’s ‘Big Break’

The show will return in 2026 after an 11-year hiatus.
May 17, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) shakes hands with New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) after the top of the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium.
October 23, 2025

Mets, Yankees, and the Nielsen Debate That Won’t Go Away

Weeks after the end of the MLB regular season, viewership issues remain.
Sponsored

How HOKA is Reimagining the NIL Relationship

Fans can now follow their favorite golfers and experience every marquee moment at the Ryder Cup — thanks to innovation from T-Mobile.
Candace Parker
October 22, 2025

Candace Parker Wants NFL-Style Coverage From NBA Media

Amazon will stream its first NBA doubleheader Friday.
Netflix
October 21, 2025

Netflix Staying on the Sidelines As TNT Sports Parent Seeks Buyer

The streaming giant shows little interest in acquisition possibilities.
Apr 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of an NBA basketball and backyard and NBA logo before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Center.
October 17, 2025

NBA Tries to Solve Fragmentation Issue It Helped Create

A new “Tap to Watch” feature will direct fans to live games.
Mar 12, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of ESPN broadcast camera during a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.
October 16, 2025

ESPN’s New NBA Segment Resists Hot Takes

LeBron James tweeted in favor of the new segment.