Now that the holidays are over, the Yankees are hoping a late gift comes their way from pitcher Andy Pettitte.
According to ESPN.com's Wallace Matthews, the Yankees expect to hear from Pettitte this week on whether or not he will pitch in 2011. Pettitte and his family have just returned home from a Hawaiian holiday vacation.
A club official has made it clear that the team is waiting to hear from the southpaw before deciding upon their next course of action, in what has thus far, been a rough off season for those in pinstripes. However, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has continually stated the contrary,
"It's not like he's holding us up anyway," Cashman said.". It's not impacting us one way or the other. He told me, 'Don't plan your winter around me,' and we haven't. We’'re focusing on the players who are in play."
Yankees president Randy Levine added that the team would not set a deadline for Pettitte to make a decision.
Pettitte, 38, who has pitched in the major-leagues for 16 seasons is reportedly, "leaning toward retirement," according to Cashman. Pettitte's good friend, first baseman Mark Teixeira, recently echoed that sentiment.
After getting off to one of the best starts of his career last season (11-1 with a 2.38 ERA), a July groin injury sidelined the lefty for the next two months of the season, and back problems limited him the postseason. According to teammates, the painful rehabilitation had Pettitte giving every inclination of calling it a career after the season.
However, expect the Yankees to give him at least 11.75 million (in-line with last year's salary) reasons not to retire, considering that behind C.C. Sabathia and Phil Hughes there is a fair measure of uncertainty in the Yanks' rotation. A.J. Burnett disappointed last season, and Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre are currently the leading candidates to win the starting job if Pettitte calls it quits.
Pettitte's family has endorsed a return, according to The New York Times. However, Pettitte told a friend that he would come back if the Yankees signed Cliff Lee and would retire if that didn''t happen.
Since 1997, Andy Pettitte has more wins (159) than any other pitcher in baseball. Roy Halladay is second with 148.
