224 replies to this topic

[jon abbey]

Ken Davidoff is reporting this today (the full story is behind a pay wall which I don't have access to, so if anyone does and there's anything interesting in there, please pass it on):

http://www.newsday.c...-2011-1.2491173

"Andy Pettitte is leaning toward returning to the Yankees in 2011, an industry source told Newsday, and has the support of his family in doing so."

This is huge for NY, much more important than the Jeter situation IMO. This would give NY a rotation of CC, Pettitte, Hughes, and Burnett, with the goal still to slot Lee into the #2 spot.

[Rudy Pemberton]

Do they just reprint the same article every year?

[terrynever]

Ken Davidoff is reporting this today (the full story is behind a pay wall which I don't have access to, so if anyone does and there's anything interesting in there, please pass it on):

http://www.newsday.c...-2011-1.2491173

"Andy Pettitte is leaning toward returning to the Yankees in 2011, an industry source told Newsday, and has the support of his family in doing so."

This is huge for NY, much more important than the Jeter situation IMO. This would give NY a rotation of CC, Pettitte, Hughes, and Burnett, with the goal still to slot Lee into the #2 spot.

I agree. Pettitte had to realize he was leaving the Yankees with an impossible hole to fill if he retired right now. He can retire after 2011 and maybe Manny Banuelos will be ready to take his place as a fifth starter.

[rembrat]

The more expensive version of Tim Wakefield.

[mt8thsw9th]

Well, like many things, you tend to get a bit more quality the more you pay I guess.

[Foulkey Reese]

The more expensive version of Tim Wakefield.

Yea we wish.

[Savin Hillbilly]

Damn, it showed up in the menu as "Pettitte leaning towards re......" and I really got my hopes up.

[StuckOnYouk]

This is becoming MLB's version of the Brett Favre story.

Golly gee, I have to go back to my family and see what they want me to do, blah blah blah yada yada yada..Are there really any Yankees fans that keep falling for this?

As long as he doesn't have a 5 something era, he'll keep coming back until the Yankees don't have room for him and tell him he's no longer worthy to don the pinstripes.

Eventually this guy's gonna be cooked. The question is which year is it. 2011? 2013? 2016?

[Titoschew]

This is becoming MLB's version of the Brett Favre story.

Golly gee, I have to go back to my family and see what they want me to do, blah blah blah yada yada yada..Are there really any Yankees fans that keep falling for this?

As long as he doesn't have a 5 something era, he'll keep coming back until the Yankees don't have room for him and tell him he's no longer worthy to don the pinstripes.

Eventually this guy's gonna be cooked. The question is which year is it. 2011? 2013? 2016?

Except of course, that Pettitte is pretty quiet about his debate, nor is he a media whore looking for the attention. Other than that, absolutely it's a Favre carbon copy. I wonder when ARod, Swish and Tex are gonna get on a plane to Houston to coax him back.

[glennhoffmania]

I agree. Pettitte had to realize he was leaving the Yankees with an impossible hole to fill if he retired right now. He can retire after 2011 and maybe Manny Banuelos will be ready to take his place as a fifth starter.

Yeah, I'm sure that Pettitte's decision will be based solely on the needs of the Yankees.

If they give him something around 10m, their rotation will cost more than the average 25 man.

[terrynever]

Yeah, I'm sure that Pettitte's decision will be based solely on the needs of the Yankees.

If they give him something around 10m, their rotation will cost more than the average 25 man.

You miss the idea that Manny Banuelos is a promising young lefty who is perhaps two years, at the most, from impacting the big league rotation. I've got about one year's worth of patience with Pettitte and then it's on to the next young lefty coming out of the farm system. Yanks develop one of these every 15 years or so. Guidry, Rags, Pettitte and Banuelos.

[glennhoffmania]

I hear ya. I just don't think that his situation will impact Pettitte's decision.

[terrynever]

I hear ya. I just don't think that his situation will impact Pettitte's decision.

You're right. Pettitte puts quite a spin on his family yearnings.

Here's a link to a thorough RAB scouting report on Banuelos, who is probably just a much younger Felix Doubront in terms of being a prospect:

http://riveraveblues...banuelos-38823/

[DLew On Roids]

If you're going to demand anonymity, Randy Levine, at least don't act exactly like Randy Levine.

[jon abbey]

Rumors both ways on this today from beat writers:

http://twitter.com/B...869952420093952

Followed 45 minutes later by this:

http://twitter.com/c...877498719576064

NY really needs him in 2011, there's no good backup plan.

[billy ashley]

Rumors both ways on this today from beat writers:

http://twitter.com/B...869952420093952

Followed 45 minutes later by this:

http://twitter.com/c...877498719576064

NY really needs him in 2011, there's no good backup plan.

I was kind of surprised you guys weren't in on Harrang, decent track record, cheap due to injuries. I know he isn't great, but he's probably decent for disposable depth.

[jon abbey]

I was kind of surprised you guys weren't in on Harrang, decent track record, cheap due to injuries. I know he isn't great, but he's probably decent for disposable depth.

They don't have a spot for an established major leaguer if they get both Lee and Pettitte, they need to wait on those guys. CC/Hughes/Burnett are in the rotation, Nova and Mitre are ideally the 6 and guys (Nova starting in AAA, Mitre as the long man).

If they don't get Lee and/or Pettitte, I think they'll reassess from there, but like I said, there really don't seem to be any good options.

[billy ashley]

Fair enough, a little unlucky Harrang took that deal so early in the off-season before you guys all knew where you're at. Though maybe that's an indication that he wanted to go to SD (his hometown, I think).

It's situations like the one NY is in that cause me to wonder why prospect for prospect trades don't happen more often. Wouldn't dealing some surplus for a low ceiling mlb ready arm make sense?

You don't see these types of deals hardly ever, but it seems like something that could be done to bolster depth for teams.

[TheYellowDart5]

Fair enough, a little unlucky Harrang took that deal so early in the off-season before you guys all knew where you're at. Though maybe that's an indication that he wanted to go to SD (his hometown, I think).

It's situations like the one NY is in that cause me to wonder why prospect for prospect trades don't happen more often. Wouldn't dealing some surplus for a low ceiling mlb ready arm make sense?

You don't see these types of deals hardly ever, but it seems like something that could be done to bolster depth for teams.

Pretty much every one of Harang's peripherals has been trending the wrong way in the last three years, and he's always hurt to boot. He'd probably be Wade Miller redux, if even that.

Pete Abraham pointed out on Twitter that Pettitte has floated retirement rumors every year for the last three offseasons, so it's probably more a negotiating ploy than anything else. That said, if he does leave, not only does that let Lee put the Yankees over a barrel when it comes to contract talks, but it also means that Cashman will have to get creative with finding a fifth starter. Though the Yankees did just fine last year with Burnett and Vazquez bombing every time through the order, so maybe the No. 5 spot isn't that big a deal, especially with a 1-2 of Lee and Sabathia.

[jon abbey]

Wouldn't dealing some surplus for a low ceiling mlb ready arm make sense?

Nova and Mitre kind of cover that, and Moseley may still be a possibility also. Behind them, they've got Brackman/Betances/Banuelos, and while of course that would be rushing them, those aren't bad 8/9/10 options.

They just need to wait and see if they can land their main targets, they obviously have a much better idea of the chances there than we do.

[Worst Trade Evah]

I'll believe he's retiring when a season finishes that he hasn't pitched in. He has 240 wins, pitched to a 130 ERA+ last year, and now has Hall of Famers popping up on his most comparable list at B-Ref. Plus, there's an easy $15,000,000 or whatever waiting for him for one season's work. He's not going anywhere.

edit: eh, anyway, the constant will-he/won't-he refrain is tiresome.

Edited by Worst Trade Evah, 06 December 2010 - 04:52 PM.

[Phranchise]

Fair enough, a little unlucky Harrang took that deal so early in the off-season before you guys all knew where you're at. Though maybe that's an indication that he wanted to go to SD (his hometown, I think).

It's situations like the one NY is in that cause me to wonder why prospect for prospect trades don't happen more often. Wouldn't dealing some surplus for a low ceiling mlb ready arm make sense?

You don't see these types of deals hardly ever, but it seems like something that could be done to bolster depth for teams.

I'm curious to hear an example of a low ceiling MLB ready arm you are referring to here. Wouldn't Nova be the exact pitcher you're talking about?

[cromulence]

I'll believe he's retiring when a season finishes that he hasn't pitched in. He's still effective, still important to his team, and still has a shot at Hall of Fame numbers. Plus, there's an easy $15,000,000 or whatever waiting for him for one season's work. He's not going anywhere.

I'm surprised this guy gets so much slack in general. All you ever read about is what a great, stand-up guy Andy Pettitte is. But

1. He's a steroid guy
2. Who is approaching Favre-Clemens territory in the will-he/won't-he retirement talk. Haven't we heard this from him since about 2006?

I guess talking about Jesus with big, soulful eyes gets you some slack.

The differences between Pettitte and Favre's retirement considerations are pretty obvious. Pettitte doesn't make a big deal about it or discuss it, and if asked he'll just say he has to think about it and leave it at that. Favre, on the other hand, would publicly weigh the pros and cons. Then we have Favre's teary "I'm retiring" press conference, something Pettitte never did. And Favre always waits until the last possible moment to decide, leaving the Packers/Jets/Vikings in a lurch. Pettitte decides soon enough so that the Yankees can plan their team and so he can attend spring training fully.

[Worst Trade Evah]

The differences between Pettitte and Favre's retirement considerations are pretty obvious. Pettitte doesn't make a big deal about it or discuss it, and if asked he'll just say he has to think about it and leave it at that. Favre, on the other hand, would publicly weigh the pros and cons. Then we have Favre's teary "I'm retiring" press conference, something Pettitte never did. And Favre always waits until the last possible moment to decide, leaving the Packers/Jets/Vikings in a lurch. Pettitte decides soon enough so that the Yankees can plan their team and so he can attend spring training fully.

Which is why I said "approaching" and not "equalling", before deleting the comment altogether.

Here's Pettitte in 2007:

"I'm not real sure what I'm going to do," said Pettitte, who is 13-8 with a 3.78 ERA. "It's kind of strange, because for sure I didn't expect my arm to respond the way it has this year. That's the whole reason I wanted the option, so I didn't feel obligated if I was hurting this year to come back.

"I want to sit down with my family, my wife and my oldest boy and see what they think. I'm really not even thinking about it now."

Pettitte added that he came back to New York to help the Yanks win another World Series, "but I want to be there for my kids and for my wife. That's just extremely important to me. I feel like I've missed out on a lot in their lives and that'll weigh big on my decision."


Read more: http://www.nydailyne...l#ixzz17N6QAblo

Repeat in 2008.
Repeat in 2009.
Repeat in 2010.

At least 4 straight off-seasons of pious talk about how important time with his family is, before taking the money and playing ball. I don't blame him for that at all, but the aw-shucks-my-family thing year after year before he takes the payday is getting old.

Yawn.

Edited by Worst Trade Evah, 06 December 2010 - 05:15 PM.

[rembrat]

Anyone else think Pettitte is making out like a bandit with these one year deals? So far since returning he has made close to 50MM (49.25 I believe) and is probably looking at another 10MM+ deal or something with incentives that will allow him to make that much. There is no way the Yankees sign him to a 5 year in 2007.

Pettitte has turned this "aw shucks, my family and kids" bit into some extra moola. Smart guy.

[EvilEmpire]

Anyone else think Pettitte is making out like a bandit with these one year deals? So far since returning he has made close to 50MM (49.25 I believe) and is probably looking at another 10MM+ deal or something with incentives that will allow him to make that much. There is no way the Yankees sign him to a 5 year in 2007.

Pettitte has turned this "aw shucks, my family and kids" bit into some extra moola. Smart guy.

The deal(s) have certainly worked out well for both. Getting a quality pitcher willing to go year-to-year has been nice for the Yankees.

[Phranchise]

Anyone else think Pettitte is making out like a bandit with these one year deals? So far since returning he has made close to 50MM (49.25 I believe) and is probably looking at another 10MM+ deal or something with incentives that will allow him to make that much. There is no way the Yankees sign him to a 5 year in 2007.

Pettitte has turned this "aw shucks, my family and kids" bit into some extra moola. Smart guy.

Both sides would say they are completely satisfied. The Yankees eliminated the risk of guaranteeing him any sort of long term commitment, and all Andy done has perform for them.

[rembrat]

The Yankees run a risk dishing out long term deals? Since when?

[Doctor G]

I might be a cynical old bastard but I think Andy's back will have more say in his decision than his family.

[Phranchise]

The Yankees run a risk dishing out long term deals? Since when?

A long term deal to an over 35 year old starter (at the time)? They sign long term deals all the time, but not to a 35 year old pitcher coming off a 4.20 ERA in the NL Central.

[kieckeredinthehead]

I might be a cynical old bastard but I think Andy's back will have more say in his decision than his family.

Not if an undetectable age-reversing substance has anything to say about it.

[LostinNJ]

Cashman on the radio in NY (I forget if it was WFAN or ESPN) this afternoon said he thinks Pettitte will retire this time.

[jon abbey]

Here's a more nuanced quote:

"“If I had to bet at some point, I think he’ll play,” Cashman said. “But he’s telling me right now he’s leaning the other way. He just doesn’t want to hold us up.”

Cashman said there was nothing Pettitte said that gave him reason for optimism, he simply believes — because “this is what he always does” — that Pettitte will eventually have a change of heart and decide to pitch one more year. For now, though, it’s completely up in the air."

http://yankees.lhblo...ashman-edition/

[Valek123]

This cracked me up... I have read it about 5 times, has to be an editor's mistake...

The other Yankees source acknowledged the team might now step up their efforts to convince Andy Pettitte to pitch in 2011.

"Obviously it would help if Pettitte came back," the source said. "But it wouldn't do any good to Brett Favre his ass and drag him back if he really doesn't want to play."

Cashman said the decision is Pettitte's.

From ESPN

[jon abbey]

No mistake, they're using "Brett Favre" as a verb.

[OCD SS]

So, with Lee out of the picture, does this make it more likely that the Yankees will try to coax Lee out of retirement by offering more money? Was it a year or two ago that the Yankees gave him a take it or leave it and then converted a decent chunk of the contract to incentives... I wonder if he thinks he could make that money back now that they appear to need him more?

[jon abbey]

From Olney's Insider column today:

"FYI: For the first time this winter, someone in the Yankees' organization spoke hopefully about the possibility that Andy Pettitte is going to return in 2011."

[Albany Sox Fan]

From Olney's Insider column today:

"FYI: For the first time this winter, someone in the Yankees' organization spoke hopefully about the possibility that Andy Pettitte is going to return in 2011."

This is nonsense. Of course they are hopeful, and of course he is coming back. Same story different year.

[SoxFanSince57]

This is nonsense. Of course they are hopeful, and of course he is coming back. Same story different year.

I agree completely, but I do hope Andy lets Cashman "twist slowly in the wind" for a few weeks.

[86spike]

how much money does he get?

I say at least $15M.

[jon abbey]

Close to non-news, but reposted because of the use of the term "cautiously optimistic":

SI_JonHeyman

#yankees expecting pettitte to decide within days whether he'll return for 17th season. cautiously optimistic.

[jon abbey]

More from Heyman, Andy is getting his $15M or $16M and Cashman should be thrilled with that...

SI_JonHeyman

pettitte thought likely to return because family supports it. but friend says andy, upset over low '09 base, wont accept a "lowball'' offer

[Pozo the Clown]

Here's how Theo can put the proverbial cherry on top of his already stellar offseason: Offer Andy Pettitte a $15 million dollar exclusive contract to stay at home in Texas with his family and "scout" local talent. The $$$ won't count towards the payroll or luxury tax and we'll get to see just how serious Andy is about the staying-at-home-with-the-fam rhetoric.

[LMontro]

Here's how Theo can put the proverbial cherry on top of his already stellar offseason: Offer Andy Pettitte a $15 million dollar exclusive contract to stay at home in Texas with his family and "scout" local talent. The $$$ won't count towards the payroll or luxury tax and we'll get to see just how serious Andy is about the staying-at-home-with-the-fam rhetoric.

Wow. I really thought the Girardi thread couldn't be topped today but I was wrong. What is wrong with people?

[rembrat]

More from Heyman, Andy is getting his $15M or $16M and Cashman should be thrilled with that...

SI_JonHeyman

pettitte thought likely to return because family supports it. but friend says andy, upset over low '09 base, wont accept a "lowball'' offer

Man, I really hope when Cashman retires from Baseball, he writes a book.

[terrynever]

Man, I really hope when Cashman retires from Baseball, he writes a book.

Tom Verducci is begging to be his ghost writer.

[Rough Carrigan]

One of these years, junkballing Pettitte's going to fall off the cliff. Hope he sticks around for it to happen.

Isn't it odd that in all the talk about Pettitte no one ever seems to broach the possibility of a starting pitcher who will be 39 next year suffering diminished performance?

[rembrat]

But back to the contract. The Yankees season rest on the creaky shoulders of a 38 year old Andy Pettitte, coming off a year where he threw 129 innings, and AJ Burnett. Let that sink in for a minute. It's going to be a good season, brothers.

EDIT: Actually, he'll be 39 come June. So, um, yea.

Edited by rembrat, 15 December 2010 - 11:21 PM.

[No Guru No Method]

One of these years, junkballing Pettitte's going to fall off the cliff. Hope he sticks around for it to happen.

Isn't it odd that in all the talk about Pettitte no one ever seems to broach the possibility of a starting pitcher who will be 39 next year suffering diminished performance?

They are so desperate now, they have to ignore the possibility.

[EvilEmpire]

But back to the contract. The Yankees season rest on the creaky shoulders of a 38 year old Andy Pettitte, coming off a year where he threw 129 innings, and AJ Burnett. Let that sink in for a minute. It's going to be a good season, brothers.

EDIT: Actually, he'll be 39 come June. So, um, yea.

Yeah. I think you could say similar things about Beckett, Lackey, and Matsuzaka too. Not going out on of a limb here at all, but I think whichever club does a better job getting consistent performances from that cast of characters plus whatever fifth starter the Yankees use is going to win the division.