Wait and see: Pettitte

In short, I think the Yanks outta take a wait-and-see approach with Andy. Let's see what the trade market and free agent market yields before filling the available seats. Pettitte is pretty much down to NY or Houston as choices. I'd advise Cashman, not that he's asking, to do his external-looking business and if there is a need for another veteran pitcher, then make an offer that he thinks matches Pettitte's projected 2009 performance.

Pettitte was overpaid ($16M) last year and he was mediocre at best. Offer him a one year, $10M deal loaded with incentives (including # of starts since I think his elbow is hanging on, barely). If he wants more, he can go to Houston or pack it in. It's time we dictated terms rather than have the terms dictated to us and to not let our nostalgia cloud the decision-making process any longer. We all love what Andy had done for us during the great run in the 90's, but he's not that same guy. Not personal, just business. This is a team that needs reliable horses, not shaky-elbowed aging average starters.

Sources said on Wednesday that Pettitte's agent, Randy Hendricks, has informed the Yankees of this recently.

No contract for 2009 has been negotiated between the pitcher and the team, but he has made it clear that he wants to play for the Yankees and the Yankees have made it clear that they want Pettitte, who went 14-14 with a 4.54 ERA for New York this season. Pettitte made $16 million last season.