“I mean, to tell you the truth, like I’ve told you all a hundred times, I’ve made it loud and clear where I’d like to play at,” Pettitte, 36, said in a telephone interview. “I’m just basically sitting here letting my agents do their job really.” What Randy and Alan Hendricks, Pettitte’s agents, are trying to do is to make sure their client avoids a pay cut.
“We’d like to have him back,” General Manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday. “It’s come to the arena of trying to achieve common ground on money, which is easier said than done.”
From what Pettitte is saying it appears that the Hendricks brothers are the ones orchestrating all of this. If true it doesn't surprise me at all. We all know how these agents work.When Pettitte was asked about possibly accepting a pay cut to come back, he dodged the topic.
“Again, for me to even talk about anything right now, it does no good,” Pettitte said. “I really don’t even want to talk about it or anything, as far as what that has to do with me and all that. I’m just letting Randy and Alan and the Yankees work things out. I’m basically just trying to enjoy my off-season with my family, and that’s it.”
Like I said this morning I think the Yanks should offer him $12-$13 million and see if he takes it. That's a fair price for both sides.
12 Comments:
I agree with $12-13 M.
a) He should take a pay cut because he's simply not worth $16 M.
b) But the Yanks also shouldn't sell short a guy who's been part of so much Yankee history.
I agree, $12-13 mill seems fair. Trying to make Andy take a paycut of 10 mill (remember, for only one year too) while some bum named Pavano made more than that last year is an insult
I think 10 million is a fair deal. Andy is going to be either the 4th or 5th starter 10 million sounds fair for that role.
I want Andy back, but this is somewhat annoying. Over the course of his time with the Yankees, they've paid him well over $70M, and regardless of what he did in the past, he didn't earn $16M in 2008. So I'm failing to see how the Yankees somehow owe him anything for past performance or just because he's a beloved "original" Yankee.
I wish just once a player would take a Yankee discount after he's been paid handsomely for years and the team stuck with him even through steroid scandals and a sub-par 2008.
Tim Wakefield gets paid $4M every year by the Red Sox, and had a much better year than Pettitte in 2008. He'll get 4M again next year. FOUR million. He signed a deal with the Sox for a perpetual $4M/year team option every season. Why do Yankee players have to hold the team hostage? Why can't a Yankee player say "you know what guys, I've made $100M in my career, if you guys want me, you got me for $10M". Every long time Yankee free agent... Posada, Rivera, Bernie... they all threaten to go elsewhere.
Matsuzaka will get $8M next year. Beckett will get $10.5. Wakefield $4. And the Yankees are supposed to cough up, what, $15M so Pettitte doesn't have to take a "pay cut"? Hell, Johan Santana will "only" make $20M next season. Is Pettitte worth just $5M less than Santana? It's just mind boggling is all.
I realize it's a business, I realize you want to make your money, but once, just once I'd like to see a Yankee player who's been well paid accept a reasonable offer without him (or his agent) threatening to go somewhere else.
Bravo, Pinstripes, Bravo!
And by the way to say that the "Hendricks brothers are the ones orchestrating all of this" is a cop out. Pettite could easily say, "look fellas, the Yanks have been good to me, they gave me a ridiculous two-year deal when no one else would look at me because I was oft injured and on performance enhancing drugs, I want to go back there, and I'm willing to take a pay cut to do so, I don't even want to talk to other teams." But he doesn't, because he knows by bringing other teams he can jack up the price on the Yanks or go elsewhere for more money and more years. The Yanks should offer 10 mil, whic I think they already have, and if he doesn't accept it let him go. The Yankees owe him nothing!
P.S. Dustin Pedroia, fresh off an MVP season, and the apparent cornerstone of the Red Sox for the next decade just inked a six year extension for 40.5 million. That is 6.75 million a year! The Red Sox have a boatload of young talent, and a culture that players want to be a part of. The Yankees are consistently manipulated and dragged over the coals by the "true Yankees." It needs to end and it needs to end here. A shift is necessary for this team to be taken seriously and seens as desirable, rather than as a bargaining chip and last resort.
Way to go, Pinstripes. Great points all around.
Frankly, I'm getting sick of Pettite and his little games. Anonymous is also right--the Yankees owe this guy nothing. Get lost, Andy ole boy. Your best days are well behind you. Thanks for the memories, and don't let the door hit you on the ass when you leave. Maybe you can get a new job as a pirate in Somalia.
Sorry, guys, but I just can't take this silliness any longer.
Mike
PS Great point about those Red Sox players and their salaries and "culture," Anonymous.
PPS I hate to harp on the same thing so often, but let's see what my hero Cashman does with this one (and with the other "deals," too).
Pettitte sucked last year. he deserves no more than 10-11 mill after last season. in the second half he was god awful when we needed him the most. in late august and september he lost 5 consecutive decisions, he finished .500 with the an era over 4.50. just shut up and take the 10 mil andy
Nice post Pinstripes, while I don't really care if the Yankees pay him the money he wants, I understand and respect your stance on this. It would be nice if some of these guys had more loyalty.
Anonymous, I did not say the Hendrick's brother were orchestrating this. Here is exactly what I said:
"From what Pettitte is saying it appears that the Hendricks brothers are the ones orchestrating all of this. If true it doesn't surprise me at all. We all know how these agents work."
It is possible that Andy is telling the truth, it's also possibly he's not. Either option wouldn't surprise me.
This idea that Pettitte sucked last year has stop. Overall his year was pretty much average; a 4.54 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and he threw over 200 innings. He had a great first 3-3 1/2 months of the year, and he was terrible from July 31st on. It was probably because of his injured shoulder and lack of training during the off-season due to the Mitchell Report. I think the guy is far from over the hill or done.
I dont think he deserves 10mm
When does the recession hit mlb??
Greg:
Did you ever think his poor second half, and penchant for arm problems has something to do with aging, or no longer using PED's? This is a man who worked out with Clemens in one of the more rigorous training programs in pro sports. And how would the Mitchell report hinder his ability to stay in shape? Because he has to fly for interrogation? Players routinely do interviews, appearances, etc.. year round. All I hear are excuses. The fact is, there is no sense in paying a half year starter, 16 mil to fill the bottom of your rotation, just because you need a spot filled. Make a play for a younger pitcher like Grienke, or Oliver Perez, or give one of your own youngsters a shot, even if he has ups and downs. I'd rather see a young pitcher struggle and learn how to pitch in this league, rather than tie up payroll on a guy who is finished.
Question Greg, how is a guy who used to be a #1, or #2, and is now at best a #4, not "past his prime" or "over the hill?"
I'll start with your final question, you said: "Question Greg, how is a guy who used to be a #1, or #2, and is now at best a #4, not 'past his prime' or 'over the hill?'"
I don't think he's at best a #4. When he was healthy last year he had an ERA under 4.00 which is a lot better than a #4 pitcher.
I also don't think his minor arm injury had anything to do with not usuing PEDs or his age. His body doesn't seems to be breaking down, he just had a minor injury. He's had minor arm injuries throughout his career.
"And how would the Mitchell report hinder his ability to stay in shape?"
He, along with beat writers have said that it effected his off-season. He has said he didn't put in his usual work last year, and he is to be blamed for that. But that leads me to believe that he's not done.
And I also never said to give him $16 MM, I said $12-13, which in this market is fair.
Oh and being able to get a pitcher for a one year deal is a luxury that we shouldn't overlook.
Post a Comment