Pettitte to decide on 2013 in "a month or so"

From Peter Botte:

Another offseason, another retirement decision for Andy Pettitte. The 40-year-old lefty hopes to tell the Yankees whether he’ll be back in 2013 “one way or another, within a month or so.”

....

“I came back because I felt like I had some competition left in me and I wanted to help this organization win another championship,” Pettitte said. “There’s no doubt I still have the desire to compete. For me, it’s the family situation. That’s the biggest thing. I’ll just try to figure that out. It’s a long season. What better job to have than play baseball? But at certain times, it gets tough whenever the family can’t be together.”

With CC, Nova, Hughes, and Pineda all in the mix for next year's rotation, bringing back either Kuroda or Pettitte, or both, would really solidify the staff.

Rotation Update: Warren & Garcia to replace CC & Andy

Yanks Want To See Better Results From Pettitte

From Sean Brennan:

Andy Pettitte is scheduled to make at least one more minor-league start either Saturday or Sunday. Where that next start occurs and whether that will be his final tune-up before his return to pinstripes is to be determined.

“They have to look at the schedule and see which town fits him the best,” Joe Girardi said. “We know Scranton is on the road a lot, so will it be home in Trenton? They’ll look at weather, too.”

Girardi wasn’t sure if Pettitte will need more than that one start before he joins the Yankees.

In Pettitte’s last outing Monday, he allowed five earned runs and 10 hits. Girardi was asked if Pettitte’s testimony in the Roger Clemens perjury trial on Tuesday might have been a distraction.

“I spoke to him before he pitched,” Girardi said. “He didn’t really lead me to believe that it was going to affect the way he was going to throw the baseball, but I’m sure it was on his mind. I don’t know how it wouldn’t be.”

Can't blame the Yankees for wanting to see a little more from Pettitte here But at the same time he said he was ready and Phil Hughes is an auto-loss every time he touches the mound.

Andy Says He Can Help Yanks Right Now

From the Sporting News:

Andy Pettitte on Monday declared himself ready to rejoin the New York Yankees, following a 96-pitch outing in extended spring training.

The lefthander's line wasn't great—six runs (five earned), 10 hits, eight strikeouts and no walks in six innings against the Phillies—but Pettitte was more focused with how he threw.

"I feel I'm strong enough and ready to make my next start with (the Yankees)," Pettitte told the team's website. "I feel good and it was another solid day. I felt the quality of pitches were as good as I've had in any of my starts up to now, and I was able to hold my velocity throughout."

Pettitte's fastball was clocked at 86 to 88 mph, according to the team's website.

I'll trust Andy's word on this one, since the stats obviously weren't there. But he's earned at least that much from the organization and fans. If he feels he's ready, let's get him up to the Bronx and into the rotation. Adios Phil.

Garcia to the Pen, Phelps to the Rotation

From Bryan Hoch:

Freddy Garcia has been dispatched to the Yankees' bullpen, with rookie David Phelps first in line to take the veteran right-hander's place in the rotation.

Garcia was battered by the Tigers for six runs in 1 2/3 innings on Saturday in a 7-5 Yankees loss, the second straight start Garcia only recorded five outs, and the change did not come as a shock to the hurler.

"When you're pitching [poorly] out of the rotation, what do you expect?" Garcia said. "When you don't do your job, what are they supposed to do? That's what happened. They're honest. I didn't pitch the way I was supposed to pitch. It's reality."

...

"I'll be OK, man. I know," Garcia said. "I've been playing this game for a long time, and a lot of things happened to me before, and I always came off on the top. It's not going to be different. So, we'll see what happens."

With his 12.51 ERA this was a move the Yankees pretty much had to make.

Garcia To Start On Saturday

Following tonight's loss in Arlington, Joe Girardi announced that the Yankees will have their normal rotation after Thursday’s off day and will not be skipping Freddy Garcia. It was widely assumed that the Yanks would skip the struggling right-hander with the Tigers in town this weekend, but instead Garcia will get the ball on Saturday, with Nova pitching on Friday and CC finishing off the series on Sunday. If the Yankees had skipped Garcia, he would likely have pitched on Monday against the Orioles, a scenario that seems to make a lot more sense than the one Girardi decided to go with.

Garcia to be skipped?

From George A. King III:

Joe Girardi has his rotation set through Friday night against the Tigers at Yankee Stadium.

What the Yankees manager doesn’t have — at least publicly — is a starter for Saturday.

Since last night’s game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park was washed out, CC Sabathia starts tonight against the Rangers instead of working last night.

Ivan Nova goes Friday, but Girardi has options for Saturday. He can bring Sabathia back on regular rest or go with the struggling Freddy Garcia. But what Girardi won’t do is insert rookie David Phelps into the rotation.

“After that, we’ll see,’’ Girardi said of Nova.

Because Thursday — Garcia’s normal day — was dark on the schedule, skipping the veteran right-hander was possible. Now, that is a stronger possibility if another starter doesn’t require an extra day of rest.

It also mentions in the article that Girardi asked Garcia if he was healthy and the right-hander said he fine. At this point I see no reason not to skip him. Until the back end of the rotation is settled, there's no reason to throw back to back stinkers if you can avoid it, and in this case they can. Also, maybe the extra time off will help Garcia figure out what's going wrong on the mound.

Pettitte To Start For Double-A Trenton on Wednesday

From George A. King III:

Andy Pettitte is no longer just a hopeful wish to give the Yankees rotation a boost.

The 39-year-old un-retired lefty is scheduled to start for Double-A Trenton on Wednesday in New Jersey. It will be Pettitte’s fourth minor league outing, and he likely will throw 80 to 85 pitches. After that the Yankees likely would want Pettitte to come close to the 100-pitch mark in his final two minor league games.

“It’s getting closer to reality now,’’ Girardi said of Pettitte’s re-entry into the Yankees’ rotation after sitting out last season. “Sixty-eight pitches [Friday in an extended spring training game], you are getting closer. Andy was a guy who was right around 100 for us anyway.

“That’s realistic to look at three more minor league starts and make a real evaluation of where he is at,’’ said Girardi, who will have to remove somebody from the rotation to make room for Pettitte.

The sooner Andy can get back to the rotation, the better. With Hughes and Garcia throwing the ball as poorly as they have the rotation could use all the help they can get.

Rotation Decision Coming Soon

From WFAN:

Hiroki Kuroda went seven innings for the Yankees, allowing two runs and a homer while striking out six. Yankees manager Joe Girardi has said that Kuroda has solidified his spot as the team’s No. 2 starter behind CC Sabathia.

“The other years, we were almost searching for the five starters,” Girardi said. “This year, I think we’ve got six quality guys.”

Girardi expects to set his rotation this weekend. Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova, Freddy Garcia and Michael Pineda are competing for three initial spots behind Sabathia and Kuroda.

“Somebody is going to be disappointed,” Girardi said. “That’s the worst part of this. And they have to get over their disappointment and help this team however we ask them to help us.”

Hughes and Nova are expected to make the rotation. That leaves Garcia and Pineda. The veteran versus the young gun.

“With a young guy, you think a little bit more about what he could be,” said Girardi. “With Freddy, we have a pretty good idea.”

Also, there's the question of what happens when Andy Pettitte is ready, but that's a question for the beginning of May.

Could Pineda Open the Season in the Minors?

According to George A. King III, it's definitely a possibility:

Paperwork might determine what the Yankees pitching rotation looks like, and it's not out of the question Michael Pineda could start the season at Triple-A.

Wednesday, for the second straight day, manager Joe Girardi mentioned minor league options and how they may factor into the four-arm competition for the three spots left after CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda.

"That's a possibility,'' Girardi said about a hurler being sent to the minors to start the season. "Some of the guys have options if that's what we need to do. But if it makes us a better team putting them in the bullpen we might do it.''

Phil Hughes has one option remaining, as does Ivan Nova, and Pineda has all three options left, so they can be sent out with fear of being lost. Hughes has 4 years and 113 days of service time. When he gets to five years (in 67 days) he can't be reassigned without permission.

Pineda makes his third exhibition start Thursday against the Nationals and the Yankees will be looking closely to see if the large right-hander's velocity starts to climb.

The article did go on to mention that options might not even be an issue because the guy who doesn't earn the rotation spot could always be added to the bullpen. But options aren't the entire story either.

When 23-year-old Pineda arrived in camp and admitted he was 10 pounds above the 270 he ended last season, the Yankees weren't too concerned because they really didn't know him. Now, they are staying the course when it comes to arm strength, an issue with Hughes last spring that led to a nightmare of a season and may have been the reason he missed significant time with an inflamed right shoulder.

"Some guys are a little bit slower coming along than others,'' Girardi said. "We haven't had him in spring training to really know how he is. We don't want him to conserve but we also want him to be ready to throw 95 to 96 when he is doing it. I don't want him going out there and just airing it out just so he can hit 95, 96 on the gun.''

Girardi is taking into account Pineda's age and one year of big league experience that consisted of a strong first half last season and a drop off in the second.

"You have to see how a guy does and how he responds,'' Girardi said. "This is not a kid who is 27 or 28 years old. Some of these springs are uncharted for him, too. As long as he is going in the right direction, that's the important thing for me.''

It's very early so I wouldn't make THAT much of this. Girardi is probably just covering all his bases, it's spring training, it's what he has to do.

Garcia Open To Any Role This Season

From George A. King III:

A starting pitcher in 327 of his 329 major league games, Freddy Garcia would prefer to remain in that spot with the Yankees this season.

However, if manager Joe Girardi sends the 35-year-old right-hander to long relief, he won’t have to listen to a protest.

“I have never pitched in the bullpen, but I feel fine [with] whatever happens,’’ Garcia said after a two-inning stint in the Yankees’ 7-4 win over the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field yesterday, when he allowed two runs and four hits. “I will be ready for anything. It’s the manager’s decision and I have to do my job and go from there.’’

...

Had Garcia known the Yankees were going to add two more starters to the mix would he have decided to go elsewhere?

“Not really, I like it here,’’ said Garcia.

Not sure this means anything, besides that Freddy is saying all the right things. Then again, that's usually the case in early March. If Phil Hughes gets the 5th spot and craps the bed again, I don't think Freddy will be that OK rotting in the pen.

Marchand: Yanks "Strongly Considering Adding Payroll"

From Andrew Marchand:

After the slumber of their quiet offseason, the Yankees are strongly considering adding payroll in a deal to bring in a starting pitcher via free agency or a trade, a baseball official with knowledge of the team’s thinking told ESPN New York.

The official said that with prices coming down as spring training approaches, the odds were “60-40” that the Yankees will become more aggressive and add to a roster that has been unchanged from last year’s club. A source predicted that things will heat up next week.

Adding payroll is fine, and it's something I thought they'd have to do if they wanted to improve. But I would have rather seen them come to this conclusion earlier in the offseason so they could have at least known this before 95% of the FA market was taken off the board.

Nothing has changed regarding free agent targets, they're still eyeing Jackson & Kuroda:

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner met with agent Scott Boras to discuss starter Edwin Jackson, but he is not the only free agent on the team’s radar. Hiroki Kuroda may turn out to be their top choice over Jackson. Roy Oswalt seems more unlikely, but can’t be completely ruled out.

The key to any contract will be the length. The Yankees are looking to make a one-year deal. A source said that while Boras is no longer looking for five years for Jackson, he is still asking for a multi-year contract. If Boras doesn’t come down further, it seems highly unlikely the Yankees will sign Jackson.

A source termed a two-year offer unlikely, but didn’t completely rule it out. The Yankees will not go three years because they want to get beneath the $189 million luxury tax number by 2014. This would cut their payroll tax more than half, down to 17 percent, if they were able to do so.

Kuroda, who turns 37 next month, has been a pitcher the Yankees have had interest in dealing for, but he has been hesitant to leave Los Angeles. However, with the Dodgers not having room for him, he may be more open-minded about coming to the east coast. Kuroda may also return to Japan.

Marchand also mentioned and earlier Buster Olney report that said the Yanks were "quietly shopping Nick Swisher" and could deal the right fielder to free up some salary.

Marchand: "There is almost no way they are signing C.J. Wilson"

Via Andrew Marchand:

As one of the insiders who talks to insiders, I, too, have been told that the Yankees might just sign Freddy Garcia and not do much else this offseason. This is what is emenating out of the Bronx.

... Unless the Yankees trade Nick Swisher, it is hard to see where they add to the offense. Maybe Yoenis Cespedes could be signed as the Yankees look toward Swisher's free agency after this year.

On the pitching side, the Yankees don't really like the prices vs. talent of any of the starters. Could they make a huge splash with Yu Darvish? That seems possible, even with their Kei Igawa experience. There is almost no way they are signing C.J. Wilson. Mark Buehrle may be better suited for the National League, in their opinion. Edwin Jackson is no better than what they have. Roy Oswalt has a back issue that concerns them. Hiroki Kuroda likes life in Los Angeles or Japan.

Um, wasn't last season's quick exit from the playoffs enough to realize that they don't have what it takes to win? Hopefully, there is nothing to this report and the Yankees will indeed try to improve on last year, otherwise we might as well start looking towards 2013 because they're not going anywhere next season with CC, Nova, Burnett, Garcia and Hughes as their starting 5.

Should We Be Worried About CC?

As the Yankees enter play tonight, they currently have a 4.5 game lead on the 2007 Mets-esque Boston Red Sox in the AL East. It is a pretty fair assessment to make that the Yankees will win the division with just 14 games to play, and that by the time next week rolls around, champagne may have already been split.

However, even if that happens, the Yankees in my mind should be seriously concerned about their 161 million dollar man, Carston Charles Sabathia. 

Do not get me wrong - CC is a beast. He has been everything and more the Yankees could have asked for, and really has had another terrific campaign here in 2011. If Justin Verlander didn't exist, CC could have had a shot at winning the Cy Young this year. 

But with the Yankees doing so well in the 2nd half and currently having a 100% chance of making the playoffs (according to Baseball Prospectus), no one has really chronicled CC's struggles that date back to the beginning of August. 

And you say, "What? Struggles? CC finally beat the Red Sox!?! He just struck out 6 Angels last week!?" Well in 8 starts since the end of July (not counting last night's 5-run outing in Toronto), CC has posted a 5.70 ERA, allowing 25 earned runs. He has lost his amazing control, he's getting into a ton of jams, and even his facial expressions - he just does not look confident out on the mound. 

Although winning the AL East will give the Yankees home-field advantage, they will likely face Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers. CC had a horrible postseason last year, pitching similar to how he did tonight in Toronto. Luckily the Yankees bailed him out in each game. But this time around, the Yankees won't be facing the likes of Francisco Liriano or C.J. Wilson. They'll be facing 23-game winner Verlander and a white-hot Doug Fister. 

I have confidence that CC can and will turn it around, but it's seriously time for the big guy to step it up. Go out and pitch like CC Sabathia, not A.J. Burnett, and make us Yankee fans feel a little better about likely facing Verlander twice in a 5-game series.


- Go Yankees

Rotation Decision Made, But It's A Secret

From Josh Thomson:

The biggest story to come out of Joe Girardi’s press conference this morning had nothing to do with today’s game. Girardi told the media that a decision has been made on which of the Yankees’ six starters will be pulled from the rotation, but he won’t make the announcement until after today’s series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays.

“I’ll probably have it for you after the game,” Girardi said. “I just have to make sure that I tell everyone involved.”

While anything can happen, the expectation is that the decision will come down to pulling either A.J. Burnett or Phil Hughes from the rotation. The odd man out will head to the bullpen.

What's with the cliffhanger, Joe?

Anyway, Hughes is probably the one headed to the pen. A.J. pitched better than Hughes his last time out, has a bigger contract, and has already shown Girardi and the Yanks that he can be an effective reliever.

Garcia Ready To Return

From Tim Bontemps:

The Yankees may have one too many starting pitchers, but Freddy Garcia doesn't think he should be the odd man out.

"I've been doing my job all year, so I probably deserve to be in the rotation," Garcia said last night.

Yes he does.

When Garcia returns to the major league club, the question will now become which of the Yankees starters -- Garcia, Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova, Bartolo Colon and A.J. Burnett -- will remain in the rotation with CC Sabathia following the Yankees' series at Baltimore this weekend.

"It's not gonna be a problem this week, but I don't know what they [want to] do after we leave Baltimore," Garcia said. "We'll see what happens."

..."[The finger] was fine," Garcia said. "No problems. I'm ready for Saturday."

This should be interesting. Obviously, the odd man out should be Burnett, but his contract might just be enough to keep him in the rotation. We'll see what happens, but it would be a shame if Nova, Hughes or Garcia lost their rotation spot because of the Yankees blind faith in A.J. Burnett.

Garcia To Miss Next Start With Cut Finger

From NJ.com:

As Phil Hughes threw six strong innings in the Yankees’ 9-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays today, allowing just two earned runs and striking out six, he was doing so under the perception that he was pitching for his job.

...

But Hughes received a stay on the decision, as did A.J. Burnett and Ivan Nova, last night when Girardi announced that Freddy Garcia had suffered a cut on his finger on his pitching hand that meant he would miss his start Sunday. Garcia was cut in a “kitchen accident.”

“I told everyone I was going to tell them I was going to have a decision tomorrow as far as what we were going to do and sometimes decisions have a way of working their way out,” Girardi said.

The manager learned of the injury earlier in the week, “four or five days ago,” he said today. The Yankees had Garcia throw a bullpen session and then again on flat ground today. The cut prevents Garcia from throwing his splitter so he was taken out of the rotation for now.

So, for now Hughes and AJ stay in the rotation. As for Nova, I'm not even sure why he's mentioned in the article. Of the three, he's the one whose name shouldn't be on the list of potential rotation cuts.

Cashman Says Burnett Is Staying In Rotation

Remind you of anyone?

From Roger Rubin:

There's an avalanche of public sentiment that A.J. Burnett is neither living up to his contract nor deserving of a spot in the starting rotation. Yankees GM Brian Cashman Friday called fan reaction to the righthander's performance and the media portrayal of it "well overblown" and called the suggestion he come out of the rotation "a bunch of crap."

Cashman came to the aid of his mentally fragile $82.5 million investment just a few minutes after the righthander showed signs that rancor may be getting to him. Shortly before batting practice, Burnett mocked reporters for standing in the near-empty clubhouse and photographed them on his cell phone camera.

"The stuff on A.J. is well overblown," Cashman said during BP. "A.J. has been solid for us this year so I just think the way it's playing doesn't necessarily reflect how he's pitched. The public outcry recently - it's all emotion rather than actual.

How exactly is 8-9 with a 4.60 ERA from the 7th highest paid pitcher in the game "solid"?

"A.J. Burnett is not pitching close to as bad as people reflect. And they got him pulled out of the rotation - I just think it's a stupid reaction."

I figured there was no way the Yanks would bench their 16.5 million-dollar-headcase. This silly reaction from Cashman just back up that opinion. The bottom line is the Yankees should do what's best for the team and it should be Joe Girardi's decision and not Cashman's.

Yanks To Trim Rotation This Weekend

From Bryan Hoch:

The Yankees expect to have a decision by the end of the weekend on their starting rotation, with A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes on the bubble to be nixed from what is currently a six-man staff.

"We've talked about it," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said on Thursday. "We feel we need to get it down to a five-man rotation and go with it."

Girardi said that the Yankees are going to make their final call before they head to Kansas City for a three-game series that opens on Monday.

Pick your poison, Yanks. I'm not really sure which way I'd go on this since they've both been awful this year. Hughes has been better lately, though AJ is really the guy you're hoping turns things around by playoff time, so again, it leaves you a bit torn.

Two things that may lead to Hughes drawing the short straw are the fact that he's already shown that he can pitch in relief, and that $16.5 million that Burnett is being paid. I can't image the Yanks want to give all that money to a mop-up guy.

Who would you drop from the rotation?

Girardi Considering a 6-Man Rotation

From Brian Costello:

"It's something we're going to think about," he said.

It is unlikely that the Yankees would go that way because CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett both like to pitch on regular rest. But Girardi said they will weigh several factors.

"Do we feel a guy needs an extra day off?" Girardi said. "Do you skip a guy just to give him a little extra rest in one spot? There's just some different things that you could do to be creative with the rotation if you do a six-man.

"Do, all of a sudden, you need one guy in the bullpen because your bullpen was fried the day before? Those are all things you have to consider if you do that."

It's not something I would be against, but I just don't see it happening. Costello suggests that Nova will be moved to the pen when Colon and Hughes come back if the Yanks don't go with a 6-man rotation, and that's sounds about right to me.