If the Yankees went up to $12 million you would hope that would be good enough for Andy. I also think adding incentives would be an easy way to get this deal done.Is there any room for Andy Pettitte to re-up with the Yankees? Apparently. But a person with knowledge of the situation said that it's up to Pettitte to initiate the discussion. If so, there might be a willingness on the Yankees part to take the offer from $10.5 million to $12 million.
It's a little curious why incentives haven't been floated as a way to get closer to a midway point between the Yanks' offer and Pettitte's $16 million salary last season, but that might only happen during a negotiation -- and, by all indications, there hasn't been much of a dialogue since Mr. Cashman went to Houston last month.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Still Room For Yanks To Sign Pettitte
From Pete Caldera:
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11 Comments:
They should have given Smoltz the money.
I was wondering about incentives too.
Has Cashman considered it?
Smoltz won't even be ready to pitch until May or June.
At least Pettitte is a good bet to pitch a full season.
Smoltz can't help them if he's sitting on the bench or rehabbing in Tampa.
I've said many times here and other blogs that they will work out a deal with Pettitte eventually. It makes too much sense for this not to get worked out.
Pettitte couldn't remain healthy and effective last season. There is no reason to think that he will this season.
Pettitte threw 204 IP last season. Only 34 pitchers in the majors accomplished that feat.
How many innings did Smoltz throw last season?
Let me answer that for you: 28 innings
It's tough to argue that Pettitte has a durability problem when he's thrown 200 IP each of the last four seasons and your alternative option is a guy who won't be ready until June and is recovering from his fifth arm/elbow/shoulder surgery in the last six years.
Pretty silly argument.
That is a ridiculous analogy. Newsflash: Smoltz was hurt. Another Newsflash: He's throwing over 90 mph now and has his breaking pitches back.
I don't really care that Pettitte threw 204 IP last season considering that his Post-AS ERA was 5.35. So to cite his aggregate IP is meaningless if quality starts matter, but hey, maybe they don't to you.
Pettitte had a sore shoulder as the season progressed and has a chronically troublesome elbow, so it's not like he's the poster boy for good health.
Smoltz has more upside than Pettitte.
Career ERA+:
Pettitte: 117
Smoltz: 127
Plus Smoltz can pitch in the rotation or out of the pen, which could be invaluable as the Yankees try to develop Hughes and Joba as starters while monitoring their IP.
The issue would be moot if Pettitte wasn't so disingenuous about money and the importance of being a Yankee. He said in ST and during the season that money doesn't matter, and he wanted to remain a Yankee no matter what. Guess not.
I have said this before and I will day it again. This is such a simple deal for both sides. Pettitte doesn't want a pay-cut from $16 million. The Yankees want to pay him $10 million. Easy solution. Every win over 14, Pettitte gets an extra million. If he wins 20 games, he gets his $16 million! If he ends up with less, he gets the $10 million. And, of course, if he wins 15, gets $11M, 16, gets $12M, 17, gets $13M, etc., etc. So simple! And everybody saves face. Yankees will most likely not have to pay more than $10 million, but I am certain they would be happy to pay him $14 million if he were to win 18 games...
i still think sheets is the guy
Well Rich, unfortunately for you, Smoltz decided to sign with the Red Sox.
Pettitte will be the one wearing pinstripes this season.
I don't care if Smoltz has more upside than Petittte. He can't help you if he's not on the mound pitching.
Sheets has more upside than Pettitte, too. But I don't see GMs from around the league pounding his door with contract offers.
Pettitte had his shoulder issue and would have been fine if he had missed a starter or two. Unfortunately, he kept pitching with it and didn't have good results.
He had pitched well before that. He was 12-7, 3.76 ERA, 1.27 WHIP on July 26th.
But he took one for the team after Wang and Joba went down and kept pitching.
Hopefully, they won't have as many health issues with the rotation this year as they did a year ago.
Oh yeah, and I don't care about the money issue. If he can help the team win, and that's clearly the case, they need him back.
No, unfortunately for the Yankees.
You're missing a critical difference. Sheets apparently does not have a clean MRI while Smoltz now does. But otherwise, good point.
They needed Smoltz. Unfortunately, they may be stuck with Pettitte.
If I turn out to be wrong, I'll admit it (gladly, because I just want to win). I hope you'll do the same.
Smoltz will be 42, and coming to the AL East from a pitcher's park in the NL. Let alone that he's coming back from surgery.
Smoltz has a 4.22 career ERA vs. the AL, and he's now well past his prime at 42. A likely ERA might be close to 5.
Additionally, his road ERA has been worse the past couple years:
2006:
Home ERA: 2.92
Road ERA: 4.21
2007:
Home ERA: 2.51
Road ERA: 3.77
2008:
made only 5 starts
I'll believe he's throwing 90 when I see it, but it's going to take more than 90 to get it done.
The Yankees need to stop banking on old (40+ years) veterans coming off of surgery.
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