Yankees close to Pettitte dealTom Verducci, SI.com (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/cnnsi/SIG=10jq1r0oi/*http://www.si.com)
http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/cn/headshots/tom_verducci.jpghttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/p/si_lo_70x24_1.gif (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/cnnsi/mlb/article/SIG=10mug73mg/*http%3A//www.si.com/)LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Yankees' search for a starting pitcher that will keep them from having to bank on a healthy Carl Pavano (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5945/) and Randy Johnson (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/4288/) is narrowing. As Vicente Padilla (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6257/) came off the free-agent board, Ted Lilly (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6223/) and Barry Zito (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6394/) get little more than cursory interest from New York and Jason Schmidt (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5340/) still doesn't see East Coast dollars to override his West Coast preference, the Yankees have found the ideal solution: Andy Pettitte (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5331/).
The free-agent left-hander, who is strongly considering retirement, is said to be intrigued with the idea of returning to pinstripes and "could possibly have a deal by the end of the week" with New York, according to a baseball source familiar with the negotiations.
The Yankees are willing to wait as long as necessary for Pettitte, whose original timetable was to defer a decision on 2007 until later this month. Pettitte is the club's No. 1 option because the former Yankee is New York-proven, is left-handed (possibly joining Johnson and Kei Igawa to give them three lefties in the rotation), does not require a lengthy term to his contract and is coming off an impressive second half of 2006.
In this market, the Yankees would do well to get Pettitte at two years and about $26 million. At 34, he's just seven months older than the more expensive Schmidt.

Pettitte (http://us.bc.yahoo.com/b?P=E_Fsys6.I.ZlbRjlQ.jCnQrzRXYh70V1rRMAABRa&T=13vuqb4rs%2fX%3d1165339923%2fE%3d95861699%2fR%3d sports%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d2.1%2fW%3dH%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3 d904342885%2fQ%3d-1%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3d57E78E44&U=13ao6l1en%2fN%3dmKNVCM6.IsI-%2fC%3d554122.9346501.10333942.1414694%2fD%3dLREC% 2fB%3d4033246[/IMG]Pettitte), Chien-Ming Wang (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7502/) and Mike Mussina (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/4715/) would give the Yankees a solid front three, leaving Johnson, who is recovering from back surgery, Pavano, Igawa, Darrell Rasner (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7657/), Jeff Karstens (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7840/) and in-season callup Philip Hughes as a comfortable inventory of pitchers to fill the other 66 or so starts. It also would keep the valuable Scott Proctor (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7237/) in the bullpen. In the meantime, as a fallback position only, the Yankees have told Proctor to prepare for Spring Training as a starter.

Pettitte has been considering retirement ever since he felt physically and mentally spent after a season during which he churned out 214 1/3 innings while working through elbow pain. But his 2.80 ERA after the All-Star break was the eighth best in baseball, the third-best among all left-handers (trailing only Johan Santana (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6441/) and Jeremy Sowers (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7700/)).
Pettitte is intrigued about ending his career where it began and returning to a more intense environment than he found in Houston. With 186 career wins, he also would have the chance of winning his 200th game. Only three left-handers in history have won 200 games with a better winning percentage than Pettitte's .641, and all of them are current or future Hall of Famers: Whitey Ford, Lefty Grove and Johnson.

I'm all for bringing Dandy Andy back to the Bronx!:yahoo:

We should've NEVER let him go years ago... I still believe it might've been the dumbest move I've ever seen Steinbrenner pull.

What the **** is the deal with old washed up starting pitching?

NO THANKS.

I'm all for bringing Dandy Andy back to the Bronx!:yahoo:

We should've NEVER let him go years ago... I still believe it might've been the dumbest move I've ever seen Steinbrenner pull.

Exactly!!!!

Best move Cash could make

Also, I say we **** up the Igawa deal, like the Sax, and leave the staff as

Wang
Johnson
Andy
Moose
Pavano


I like it

If this happens, I'll have to scrape off the masking tape I put on Andys face on every WS poster I have, after he signed with the Astros.

If this happens, I'll have to scrape off the masking tape I put on Andys face on every WS poster I have, after he signed with the Astros.


Yeah, that is the only thing you are scraping off those posters. Teenagers.

I am for bringing Andy back on a short term deal if the price is right. He is a Yankee. If he gets hurt the contract won't kill them. They haven't won a lot since he has been gone!!!

This is the BEST POSSIBLE THING the yankees can do.

Yeah, that is the only thing you are scraping off those posters. Teenagers.

I am for bringing Andy back on a short term deal if the price is right. He is a Yankee. If he gets hurt the contract won't kill them. They haven't won a lot since he has been gone!!!


If he doesn't retire he will probably only be looking for a 1yr deal.
I would do it......gives Hughes another year to develop along with Sanchez and some of the other kids.

If he doesn't retire he will probably only be looking for a 1yr deal.
I would do it......gives Hughes another year to develop along with Sanchez and some of the other kids.They can bring Andy here and their will still be room for young kids if they knock down the door.

Coming next week: Yankees re-sign Andy Messersmith.

Coming next week: Yankees re-sign Andy Messersmith.


He is 6 or 7 years younger than Glavine. I believe he is younger than Pedro as well. Pitched over 200 innings last year.

As you were.

Coming Smizzy, washed up? He's 34, not exactly 42, and he can give you innings and still would win 15+ here in Pinstripes this season, I guarentee it.

Hows this for a starting rotation?

Mussina
Johnson
Wang
Pettitte
Igawa

Pavano is sitting there as an emergency #6 guy if Johnson can't go and if neither of them are ready to pitch you can always bring up Philip Hughes.

Andy is a few months older than Schmidt, and he is reportedly looking for a 4 year deal. If the Yankees can get Andy for 1 or 2 years, at a cost of roughly 25 million total, they need to do it.

We know he can pitch in NY, and he is a winner. Also, stack up his last 2 years stats against Zito or Schmidt. Not too shabby.

Andy is a few months older than Schmidt, and he is reportedly looking for a 4 year deal. If the Yankees can get Andy for 1 or 2 years, at a cost of roughly 25 million total, they need to do it.

After Andy Messersmith they're going after Mike Schmidt?

The positive he has proven he can pitch and win in NY- the negative age and injuries. Have not you guys had enough pitchers brought in with an injury history to make you wary.

The positive he has proven he can pitch and win in NY- the negative age and injuries. Have not you guys had enough pitchers brought in with an injury history to make you wary.


Okay 4 year deal to Pedro. He pitched 215 innings last year and would be a fixture in that locker room. 4 rings all here. Man, you can't put a price on that.

Okay 4 year deal to Pedro. He pitched 215 innings last year and would be a fixture in that locker room. 4 rings all here. Man, you can't put a price on that.

Don't forget his personal relationship with God. That can't hurt.

Sign him NOW !!!!!!

The one of many things the Yankees have lacked in the Post Season is the Lefty who can throw in Big Games (Obvious and well deserved dig at Randy johnson)

Pettitte is far from being washed up. He would be a great number 2 behind Wang.

I agree with this move 120 % !

What the **** is the deal with old washed up starting pitching?

NO THANKS.
A 4+ NL ERA is not what they want. Misplaced 1996 nostalgia. Lilly is now a better choice and he wouldn't be switching leagues.

A 4+ NL ERA is not what they want. Misplaced 1996 nostalgia. Lilly is now a better choice and he wouldn't be switching leagues.

His ERA is misleading. He had a tough 1st half cause of nagging injuries but for the whole 05 season and the 2nd half last year he was one of the best pitchers in baseball.

You guys seem to forget the launching pad he pitched in.

I'd welcome Pettite back in a heartbeat

You guys seem to forget the launching pad he pitched in.

Minute Maid is a park that can be pitched in. The center field, is cavernous, and a smart and able pitcher can use that to his benefit.

Pettite was at times brilliant and at times awfull in his tenure in Houston.
He was walking a lot of people erly last year, as I recall, and appeared to be nibbling. Then when Clemens came back on board he seemed reborn.

I would be concerned with that nagging elbow problem which seems to continue to flair up from time to time.

I would be concerned with that nagging elbow problem which seems to continue to flair up from time to time.

Scott as always -- good post.

Here is the thing. There is a good chance his elbow will cause him to not do well here. If it was anyone else I would pass. But since the money is reasonable and the length of the contract isn't too long I say go for it.

This contract won't cripple the Yankees if other things don't pan out.

cant say im impressed with signing another old pitcher

would've prefrered someone in their 20's

3/15/06

Analysis: Pettitte started his throwing program in February this year, giving himself some extra time off after rushing back in 2005 from elbow surgery in August 2004.

9/14/2006

Pettitte had a cortisone injection in his elbow on Wednesday, a day after leaving his start against St. Louis in the third inning with a strained muscle in his left elbow. The Houston left-hander also underwent an MRI exam, which revealed tendinitis in the elbow. Pettitte is scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Phillies. "We're hopeful that he'll make his next start this weekend," Astros general manager Tim Purpura said. "But we're going to take it day by day."

Tendinitis in the elbow?

Hmmmmmmmm....after elbow surgery?

That is not what I call 'healthy,'

That can be a lingering injury that can and will flare up at any moment (scar tissue from the surgey)

I can't understand how Yankee fans still want to bring in washed up, overpaid veterans.

Don't you want to see the franchise move in a different direction?

Why are you so set in your standard ways?

Team unity isn't bringing in hired guns.

Team unity is letting guys come through the ranks, and seeing them through to their best.

He's been a lot better in the second half the last few years. It will be funny when he stinks it up in the first half and a lot of you start calling for his head, then he turns it on in the second half and everyone gets amnesia.

Houston reportedly offered him a 1 year - $12 million deal. Meaning it would probably take a 2 year contract offer in the area of $30 million to pry him away from his hometown.

3/15/06

Analysis: Pettitte started his throwing program in February this year, giving himself some extra time off after rushing back in 2005 from elbow surgery in August 2004.

9/14/2006

Pettitte had a cortisone injection in his elbow on Wednesday, a day after leaving his start against St. Louis in the third inning with a strained muscle in his left elbow. The Houston left-hander also underwent an MRI exam, which revealed tendinitis in the elbow. Pettitte is scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Phillies. "We're hopeful that he'll make his next start this weekend," Astros general manager Tim Purpura said. "But we're going to take it day by day."

Tendinitis in the elbow?

Hmmmmmmmm....after elbow surgery?

That is not what I call 'healthy,'

That can be a lingering injury that can and will flare up at any moment (scar tissue from the surgey)

I can't understand how Yankee fans still want to bring in washed up, overpaid veterans.

Don't you want to see the franchise move in a different direction?

Why are you so set in your standard ways?

Team unity isn't bringing in hired guns.

Team unity is letting guys come through the ranks, and seeing them through to their best.

34 years old is FAR from washed up.

3/15/06

Tendinitis in the elbow?

Hmmmmmmmm....after elbow surgery?

That is not what I call 'healthy,'

That can be a lingering injury that can and will flare up at any moment (scar tissue from the surgey)

I can't understand how Yankee fans still want to bring in washed up, overpaid veterans.


Maybe because he's part of our glory years? Maybe because he always did the job when he was here and in the playoffs? He seemed to be pitching pretty good in the 2nd half to me. A solid lefty with a 1-year deal sounds good to me. I hear he signed 1 year for $15M. I'll take that. Sure $15M may be a bit much, but if we deserve to overpay any players it's Jeter, Bernie, Mariano and Pettitte. There are plenty of other guys to cover for him if he misses time and I do expect guys to have some residual soreness and tendinitis after surgery.

Pettitte's got experience in the Bronx. He has a much higher chance of playing well than Zito in the Bronx, even at his age. He's the most solid guy out there, and we already know he can handle the pressure. Great pickup if we get him.

Lupica chiming in:



Just know this, as the Yankees hope for some kind of reverse homecoming three years later, as we get ready to Yankee this thing up good:

If the name isn't Pettitte this is the same kind of pitching decision Brian Cashman and the other guys on the Yankees' Crack Baseball Committee have been making on aging pitchers for years.


The difference this time is that it is a Yankee postseason hero who goes all the way back to Game 5 against the Braves in the '96 World Series. The Yankees are desperate to bring back the glory days and Cashman is desperate to do something more than spend record amounts of money on pitchers who don't win him the World Series.


If Pettitte comes back at anything like the price we are hearing - and what we are hearing is either $15 million or $16 million for next season - here is what the top guys in the Yankee starting rotation will be making, if there is ever a time when they're all healthy:


Johnson at $16 million.

Pettitte at $16 million.

Mike Mussina at $11 million.

NASCAR Carl Pavano, $10 million.


Of course there is the new guy from Japan, Kei Igawa, whose negotiating rights have already cost the Yankees $25 million. This at a time when we hear about how the Yankees plan to cut payroll. Right. And they're moving across the street for their fans. It is probably just a footnote that the ace of their staff, Chien-Ming Wang, came out of the farm system and didn't even make $400,000 last season.


Please remember that the Yankees were worried about Pettitte's elbow three years and more than 500 innings ago. They still started throwing money at him when he was on his way to the airport, but by then it was too late. Andy's heart started doing that old tug-pull thing and before long Clemens was making the first of his own big scores in Houston. Another guy doing it for family.

Then, of course, Pettitte and Clemens made it back to the World Series before the Yankees did, in 2005. Now both of them have contracts that are up and the Yankees, for so many reasons, like Pettitte better than Ted Lilly and now here we are, with a Yankee version of "The Way We Were." Steinbrenner wants this homecoming, Steve Swindal apparently wants this homecoming, so does Cashman, whose pitching scorecard doesn't stand up to much scrutiny.

If it happens, it will really be Yankee-ed up with all the trimmings.

Wow Lupica is an ASS. This has nothing to do with a nice feel good story. Pettitte is the best pitching option for the yankees right now.