Andy Pettitte decided Wednesday he will pitch next year rather than retire, a move that will set off negotiations with his hometown Houston Astros and the New York Yankees.
"Andy told me he wants to play in 2007 and perhaps beyond," said his agent, Randy Hendricks.
Pettitte played for the Yankees from 1995-03, helping New York win four World Series and six AL pennants. He spent the last three seasons with the Astros, who reached the World Series for the first time in 2005.
Hendricks is expected to talk primarily with the Yankees and Astros.
After reading Pete Abraham (lohud.com) (the blog for The Journal News beat writer for the Yanks), it looks like it might actually happen, and happen quickly...
This just makes me happy. I wouldn't expect 20 wins or anything, but I really like the move, if it happens. To me, it beats the holy crap out of Lilly for 4 years/$40 mil (what the Cubs just gave him), or about the same for Meche. The early line is that they bring Andy back for one year with possibly an option for a second, at $10-15 mil.
This would be just what the yankees needed. The fact that the Astros tried to get John Garland from the White Sox sends a message to Pettitte about his importance to them, too.
Rusty Shackleford is just the name he uses to order Pizza with.
$16 million for one year. I could overanalyze the situation and/or discuss the merits of this move and/or if it'll get the Yankees back into the World Series, but to be honest? The simple fact that Andy's going to be wearing pinstripes again brings a smile to my face.
Pettite put up an unbelievable playoff winning streak to the point where teams facing him and Rivera may as well have forfeited and saved themselves three hours. He pitched ONE loss (and not a horrible one, either) in the World Series and gets sent packing, as the result of another Furious George tirade.
Pettite never should have left at all. At least the Yanks have finally come to realize this.
"That's the thing: Maybe he'll be up and down this season, but when he's up, is there another center in the league quite like him? He protects the rim, passes out of double teams, has great hands around the basket, up-fakes on his jump-hooks, rebounds in traffic, even has a motor that keeps going and going (unlike a stiff like Eddy Curry). I'm not sure what's missing here. This is stunning. This is startling. There's almost no precedent for it. Just what the Lakers needed: More obscenely good luck. Meanwhile, I have to watch Al Jefferson whip jump-hooks off the front of the rim for the third straight season. I will now pour scalding hot water down my pants." -Bill Simmons on Andrew Bynum (11/08/06)
Nearly all Yankee fans never wanted him to leave in the first place. I still stand by letting him go because I'd never give a starting pitcher more than 3 years, but a 1-2 year deal is good for me.
This is much better than all the alternatives, even the 3 year Schmidt deal that I like. Now tell Zito to sell his $100 mil. pitcher's park-overrated-headcase elsewhere. I'd rather have Pettitte. Even at his bad year, his K/BB ratio was 2.5 last year. Zito's K/BB of only a 1.5 is even worse than his WHIP of 1.40.
For the Next move, is Boston forced to cave to Boras for the Japanese guy with 100 different pitches, or do they go for the now friendless Clemens? Or if Clemens still wants to be with his buddy can we get him for half a year in pinstripes?
Originally posted by It's FalsePettite put up an unbelievable playoff winning streak to the point where teams facing him and Rivera may as well have forfeited and saved themselves three hours. He pitched ONE loss (and not a horrible one, either) in the World Series and gets sent packing, as the result of another Furious George tirade.
Pettite never should have left at all. At least the Yanks have finally come to realize this.
As a Braves fan, Game #1 of the 1996 World Series will always shine as my favorite Andy Pettitte moment.
2.1 innings. 6 hits 7 runs (all earned) 1 walk 1 K
That would include both of Andruw Jones' first two post season homeruns.
One of my last real fond memories of my team before they became complacent.
$16 million for one year. I could overanalyze the situation and/or discuss the merits of this move and/or if it'll get the Yankees back into the World Series, but to be honest? The simple fact that Andy's going to be wearing pinstripes again brings a smile to my face.
Yankee Haters can feel free to roll their eyes.
(edited by Deputy Marshall on 8.12.06 1732)
That's the kind of attitude to have. As a Mets fan I could sit here and think Glavine is getting $10 mil to come back when I'm not sure he has a full season left in him. But really, who cares? Minaya has shown he's going to do whatever it takes to win games so I could care less if Glavine gets 10 mil or 20 mil. Of course not every team can think that way because they have a smaller budget but I don't think fans of teams like the Yankees should be all that worried about how much they spend.
And to bring this back to Pettitte, in a season where Maddux and Glavine are still getting 10 mil this year I don't think 16 mil for Pettitte is too overpriced.
Some people (including myself) will continue to wonder what would have been or should the 600 home run mark mean something since A-Rod did admit to using substances during his tenure in Texas.