But Pettitte hinted Sunday night that he not only wants to play next year, but that he would prefer a return engagement in pinstripes. After weathering an offseason in which he and the Yankees haggled for weeks before agreeing on a deal, the 37-year-old lefthander said he does not want to repeat a lengthy contract process.He also said he knew he was going to sign with the Yankees last season and was really bothers by the whole free agent process.
"I really would hate . . . I really don't want to go into the offseason, you know, and sit there and be a free agent again, have to worry about other people making me offers and whatever," the lefthander told the Daily News before the rubber game against the Red Sox.
"I wanted to come back here and it looked like it might not happen towards the end. In my mind-set, I was coming back no matter what," he said. "That's where I was at. It's tough when you're getting offers from other clubs, and it's not even comparable.When asked specifically about next year he had this to say:
"As far as next year - I'm trying to get through this year. I hope I can stay healthy and try to help this club win. That's all we're looking at right now. I'm not through - we got a lot of starts left (this season). I want my arm to be healthy. Once I get closer, I can start thinking about that. Maybe start talking to my family and my wife about that."
Right now next years starters are CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Joba Chamberlain. Chien-Ming Wang's Yankee career is in question, and even if they do bring him back he's going to be out most of the year. Phil Hughes will likely find his way back into the rotation, but he, like Joba this year, will have an innings limit. So, they're going to need to come up with a starter from somewhere.
Last year at this point Andy was struggling and dealing with an injury that hurt his performance. In response to this many fans said he was done. I think he's proven this year that he was far from it. So far he's 10-6 with a 4.25 ERA, and he should have no problem reaching 200 innings. A solid no. 3 starter if you ask me. Next year he would probably drop to number four in the rotation since Joba should be able to will be able to throw somewhere around 190-200 innings.
I liked the idea of bringing him back this year, and with Chien-Ming Wang hurt I think bringing him back next year would be smart too.
Andy also had this unrelated quote in the article when he was asked about the Yankees starting staff:
"As far as stuff-wise, this is probably the best (rotation), with CC, A.J., and Joba (Chamberlain)," Pettitte said. "Just the kind of stuff they can take out there every fifth day. This is probably the best (group of) arms, up and down. I don't like to throw my arm in there with these guys' arms. I just feel like I can go out there and usually win some games for us."So back to bringing him back next year, what do you guys think? Should the Yanks bring him back for the 2010 season?
20 Comments:
YES! I like C.C, A.J,. Joba, Andy, and Phil as our five. 2 young, 2 veterans in their prime, and 1 veteran. A balanced rotation. Pettite can still pitch and give you a chance to win and that will work with our offense. I think this offseason should be focused on getting a younger more athletic outfield, a shutdown 8th inning guy, and a dominant second lefty, not named Damaso Marte.
I agree with Anon. Not a whole lot of big free agents next year. I think you can pick up one more decent arm and maybe bring Phil into the rotation later in the season from the bullpen so he doesnt build up a high innings count early on. Finish the season with a strong rotation heading into the playoffs. Andy can serve as an anchor to a staff like that pitching 4th or 5th.
-G
I think Andy should be brought back next year, maybe for 2011 if he's up to it as well.
If he keeps it up he'll probably finish at 16-17 wins and close to 180 strikeouts. He can certainly still pitch effectively, and I want the Yanks to jump on him as soon as possible, and certainly offer him more money so we don't have to wait till February again for him to make a descision.
Also, the Yanks need to sign him quickly because I believe the Astros and a couple other teams would be interested. I know he likes pitching in New York but remeber he was really considering re-joining the Astros again.
Andy Pettitte in my mind is a hall-of-famer, and I'd love to see him in pinstripes for the next couple years.
Never be in the hall after admitting to HGH use...unfortunately
Its still to soon tell. If he finishes the year strong though and isn't demanding more than a one year deal, I think you do. None of the free agents next year really jump out at me and its clear they're going to have to either resign Pettitte or sign somebody else.
Its still to soon tell. If he finishes the year strong though and isn't demanding more than a one year deal, I think you do. None of the free agents next year really jump out at me and its clear they're going to have to either resign Pettitte or sign somebody else.
I only want Pettitte back,
1. If we win a WS
2. If it does not effect placing Hughes in the rotation.
Andy sucks.
What's up Hitler? Enjoying you're useless life? How's the Red Sox doing?
Not be jurk.
andy is not hof material. he is, however, a solid mlb pitcher and should be brought back next year for the same amount of $$ as this year. imagine how nasty that rotation would be if wanger can come back too...CC, A.J. Joba, Pettitte, Wang, Hughes
....unstoppable
I think if Andy wants to come back, bring him back. I doubt Wang will be ready at the beginning of the year. Might workout fine if he comes back later with Hughes's perceived innings limit next year.
Andy deservers another year if he wants one. How many 20-game winners who can pitch in NY, won a WS or two in NY and have dynamite second halves are around? Not many.
He's obviously not what he used to be but guess what, he has 10 wins this year and deserves to have more the way he's been pitching lately. Of course he wins when he gives up 7 or 8 to the Sox, but not when he gives up one or two. Ah, baseball.
Anyway, this needs to be done quickly and not turn into a headache for no reason.
Having Andy as a 4 or 5 is pretty damn good.
You can't have enough pitching. Sign Andy and then see who's remains healthy. What can seem like a deep rotation can get thin in a hurry once the season is underway. Ask the Red Sox.
How about Smoltz pitching for St. Louis -- 5 innings and K'g 9! I guess the NL is closer to AAA than I thought.
It doesn't hurt that Smoltz's first two NL starts are against the Padres and the Natinals. But then again, remember what the Nationals did to us this yeah...ugh
I just read that the Cards coaches are claiming that Smoltz was tipping his pitches. I guess that makes the Red Sox pitching coach look pretty bad. I guess Beckett must have been tipping his as well.
It seems to me that the majority of AL pitchers going to the NL become Cy Young candidates -- while the reverse is certainly not true. Who was the last NL pitcher to be successful in the AL?
Wow, Joe. If that's the case it really makes Boston look terrible. Imagine they actually had a decent John Smoltz on their hands and cut him because they couldn't figure out he was tipping pitches? lol
Bring Pettitte back. He's a workhorse. Don't let him stop you from putting Hughes in the rotation or going after a younger arm in the offseason, but Andy is an inexpensive back end guy.
If he was tipping his pitches why was he usually okay through the first couple innings only to get mauled in the early middle innings? Seems like he would have gotten killed in the first then.
Would be really funny though if true.
I really hope that not only is damon brought back but pettitte as well comes back. He looks to be healthy and can still pitch. Now someone on here said that we should look for a shutdown 8th inning guy this offseason and the only problem with that is that there aren't any real good ones sent to be free agents. I looked at the free agents list, the best of the bunch and this shows how weak the free agent class that i am saying this but Latroy Hawkins. I know no one wants to go through that again, so where should the yanks look for that 8th inning guy? I don;t think anyone unlees your name is Joe Girardi thinks bruney can be that guy. He is always getting hurt and can be wild. Personally if i were cashman iwould trade bruney this offseason. Maybe to an nl team that thinks he can close? Does anyone here think either melancon or dunn could be ready to be that guy? And if not them, then who?
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