Bobby Valentine, David Ortiz Intrigued by Yankees Pitcher Andy Pettitte’s Return From Retirement
Inevitably, the rival Red Sox received the memo. As David Ortiz –– who has belted 13 RBIs against Pettitte and owns a .361 batting average against him –– learned of the news, he found the southpaw's change of heart intriguing.
"The Yankees gave him the chance to come back and perform because they think he can come back and perform, but he's not 25 anymore," Ortiz said. "The Yankees also know that they're running the risk of him coming back and not performing well. They know we're up to the challenge."
By adding Pettitte, 39, the Yankees will have roughly seven pitchers vying for spots in the starting rotation. He'll join CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova, Michael Pineda, Freddy Garcia and Hiroki Kuroda in the laundry list of pitchers.
It's the polar opposite of Boston's situation. A month into spring training, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine is still evaluating options to fill the backend of the organization's rotation.
But he couldn't avoid commending the Yankees' addition.
"They had too much pitching before," Valentine said, smiling. "Now, what do they have? Too, too, too much pitching? He's pretty good. Is he going to be a starter or just come in to pick people off?"
Through 16 seasons, Pettitte amassed a 240-138 record and owns a lifetime 3.88 ERA. He was also part of the team's esteemed "Core Four," a group that includes Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada and carried the Yankees to four titles in the '90s.
After a year in retirement, Pettitte is looking to replicate his form from 2010, when he posted an 11-3 record and earned a nod on the All-Star team. But Valentine expressed his doubt.
"I don't think he's coming back to where he was," Valentine said. "Call it a hunch. But he's a good pitcher. I always respected Andy. I always thought he was a borderline Hall of Famer. You add someone to your staff, you're doing good."
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