Waiting on Andy
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Nov 10, 2010 
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Obviously the Yankees are hoping to make a big addition to their pitching staff this winter by signing Cliff Lee – a pursuit it appears they’re beginning in earnest today, with a MLB Trade Rumors report that they’ve sent a contingent to meet with Lee in Arkansas – but Andy Pettitte’s status is a pretty considerable issue, too. Of course, this is a pretty familiar situation – Pettitte has been deciding whether to pitch for them each of the past four offseasons. Is there a pattern that might indicate when the Yankees will know something on their Texas lefty? Let’s take a look:
After the 2006 season: Pettitte signs a one-year, $16 million deal with a player option for a second year on Dec. 9, spurning the Astros who had hoped to bring him back.
After the 2007 season: After declining his option on Nov. 5, Pettitte accepts arbitration from the Yankees on Dec. 7 and officially signs on Dec. 12.
After the 2008 season: Some backs-and-forths over money push the ultimate decision later this time around, with Pettitte not signing his incentive-laden deal until Jan. 26.
After the 2009 season: Back to the usual, Pettitte followed up his fantastic postseason by filing for free agency and then signing a one-year deal with the Yankees on Dec. 9.
What does it all mean? Pettitte said after the Yankees were eliminated that “I don’t want it to drag out. I want to make a decision” and with the few tweaks to the MLB offseason calendar, things might move more quickly but judging by Pettitte’s history, that decision doesn’t figure to come for at least a few more weeks.
My personal opinion? I think Pettitte gives it one more year. Yes, he had injury problems this past year but a) they weren’t with his elbow or shoulder; and b) they saved him several months of wear and tear. I’d expect him to sign another one-year deal the first week of December.
* Thanks to the AP for this consummate shot of Pettitte – one that TV directors have been loving for more than a decade.
I think Andy will return as well……………..
I know it was already leaked, but the official Baseball America list is out. Here is a link to the page.
http://www.baseballamerica.com.....10907.html
Great picture.
Andy could sign on December 9. I know it’s a Thursday because it is my birthday.
SAS-that would be a really nice birthday present!
Love that picture of Pettitte. I think it’s the one on his T-Shirt – the one I got for my husband – that’s “hidden” in his number.
Erin,
I couldn’t ask for a better one.
That is a great photo and captures Andy the way most of him think of him.
Dear Andy
Please don’t torture us. Re-sign quickly.
Thanks
Your adoring Yankee fans.
Any truth to the rumor that Cashman went to Arkansas today with the spitting Yankee fans bound and gagged for Mrs. Lee to bow hunt on her property while Cashman makes his sales pitch?
I agree – Andy will re-sign. One year deal and then he, Jorge and Mo ride off into the sunset together.
I just hope that Andy let’s Cash know before the winter meetings so that he can either work on getting a second free agent pitcher or start putting together the parameters for a trade for another starter.
Doreen-my brother has that same shirt. He wears it constantly. LOL I’ve always kidded him he’s got a man-crush on Andy Pettitte.
Erin -
It’s a great shirt!!
If Andy doesn’t re-sign – would there be any support for the following deal:
Royals get: Ramiro Pena, Sergio Mitre and Hector Noesi
Yankees get: Gil Meche and Alex Gordon
It would be a pure salary dump on behalf of the Royals. Meche’s $11 mil salary for this year fits nicely into the Yankee payroll.
Gordon would be an interesting bench player in that he could fill in at all four corners. Maybe the hitting comes along, maybe it doesn’t. If it does, the Yankees have a sleeper, if it doesn’t – they haven’t really given up anything.
SAS:
Pretty neat have the driving range right outside your back door.
Erin, if you’re out there, say a prayer for kermit. He’s not doing well.
http://news.3yen.com/wp-conten.....t-dies.jpg
Chip:
You did hit your head. There is no way the Royals do that deal, you are proposing that they give up two starters for our junk ? Good try, I think you will need to sweeten the pot. LOL !
Gil Meche was told he needed shoulder surgery last season. He opted against it and will pitch out of the bullpen.
Tom- Poor frog. It’s not easy being green.
Tom –
Thanks, didn’t know about the extent of the Meche mess.
VY -
I was relying on the cheapness of the KC ownership
Need one more year from Andy before he rides off to the sunset with Jorge. This gives the Yankees another year to develop Noesi, Phelps, Betances, Warren, and Banuelos.
After Derek gets hit No. 3,000 the next big thing to get cameras clicking at the Stadium will be the final days of Andy and Jorge.
Chip:
With all the deals you have thrown out on the blog the last couple of weeks you should become Cashman’s Asst. GM. Jean Afterman should be resigning soon, I send her a note about you.
Erin November 10th, 2010 at 11:31 am
( this is also why i do not totally hate on michael kay, his andy man-crush kills me)
Doreen-my brother has that same shirt. He wears it constantly. LOL I’ve always kidded him he’s got a man-crush on Andy Pettitte.
________________________________________________________
Erin, your brother sounds like a good catch! Anyone with a man-crush on Andy is ok by me!
And i really dont have to state my opinion on this subject, its been my handle all year
Anyone with man-crush on Andy is ok by me as well
VY -
I don’t want Jean’s job – I want the big chair!
NYY626 – Andy in 2011 November 10th, 2010 at 11:50 am
Erin, your brother sounds like a good catch! Anyone with a man-crush on Andy is ok by me!
( this is also why i do not totally hate on michael kay, his andy man-crush kills me)
**************************
LOL Ever since he was a kid he’s idolized him. I honestly don’t know what he’ll do when Andy does eventually retire
I think he’s coming back too, BTW.
Chip:
You have to ride the pine first and learn the ropes from inside the asylum. When Cash finally slips up you will be right there to scoop up the pieces.
I like hearing about Cash flying to Arkansas to meet with Clifford. Greenberg over in Texas is counting his pennies while the Yankees move forward. Greenberg must be saying damn why can’t we move that fast.
Nothing like being behind from the get go eh, Chuck ?
Vineyard,
It would be neater if I could play golf…lol..
Vineyard,
As I have said in one form or another for weeks now, the Yankees are on top of this and all their signings. Everything will get taken care of in good order. That’s why they bother to pay the management team the big bucks.
If Lee doesn’t sign with the Yankees, it will be his choice not to. It will not be because the Yankees didn’t take care of business.
Clifton Phifer Lee not Clifford.
If Meche needs shoulder surgery, why would the Yankees take a chance on him? He’s expensive and not 100%.
I have a great nephew who is Clifton.
Chip’s trades inevitably include damaged goods/bad players
Who’s to say that Greenberg hasn’t had discussions with Lee already? He did have 5 days of exclusivity. In the end, speed isn’t going to mean anything. It’ll be all about the greenbacks.
VY -
Chuck Greenberg is getting inducted into baseball – he now gets to go head to head against the Yankees for a free agent they really want.
This one sentence from Tom Verducci pretty much sums up one of my biggest concerns about the Yankees.
“Assuming the Yankees get Lee and keep Derek Jeter, in 2013 they will be shelling out about $135 million just for six players between 32 and 39 (Lee, Jeter, Sabathia, Burnett, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira).
I hope that Cashman continues to emphasize the youth movement, there are certainly promising players in the Yankees minor league system that have been discussed here many times over. Whether any of them will turn out to be “AL East” caliber is an unknown.
It’s going to be a tricky tightrope Cashman is going to have to walk the next 3-5 years as he guides the transition from aging players to young ones.
Jerkface -
Often someone else’s damaged goods pay off (Kerry Wood this past summer for example) whereas someone’s top player doesn’t (javy vazquez)
NYY626 -
I just ordered Laura Posada’s book.
Often someone else’s damaged goods pay off (Kerry Wood this past summer for example) whereas someone’s top player doesn’t (javy vazquez)
–
Your two very air tight examples have convinced me.
Conversely Austin Kearns vs Cliff Lee, Rich Harden / Chien Ming Wang vs FA pitcher of your choice. I think bad players tend to be bad players.
Buster thinks that Cash could go ahead and make an offer today.
Vineyard,
Again, I say the Yankees are well aware of 2013. Will Burnett be gone by then? Posada will be off the books unless he turns into a dynamite DH.
I agree we have no idea how the minor league players will perform at the major league level. Everyone seems so impressed with Nunez; frankly, I am waiting.
WCYF -
The Yankees are getting younger.
Last year they went from Johnny Damon to Curtis Granderson
This year they’re phasing out the 39-year old Posada for the 20-year old Montero.
They’re essentially bringing in Lee (32) in part because Andy (39) won’t be around forever.
Cashman has done a good job blending youth with this team – but that doesn’t mean he’s going to forgo bringing in top quality players like Lee when they’re available.
I think part of the reason he’s staying away from Werth is the fact that he’s 2 years older than Swisher.
“Buster thinks that Cash could go ahead and make an offer today.”
Why not? Sooner he can get it done, the better.
VERY good article on Jeter from Joe Posnanski:
http://joeposnanski.si.com/201.....-question/
Mell,
Are you m?
I agree 100 percent with Chip ! Cashman has done a good job getting younger !
Doreen says:
November 10, 2010 at 12:25 pm
NYY626 -
I just ordered Laura Posada’s book
——-
I bought the book a month ago, whenever it came out. I loved it, very inspirational and a great story.
Doreen November 10th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
NYY626 -
I just ordered Laura Posada’s book.
Let me know what you think after you read it!
____________________________________________________________________
Early christmas gift?
SAS:
No, I’m not.
NYY626 -
Yes!
Will do.
Thanks Mell, just curious.
Country club,
Thanks.for the link….that was a good.article.
Thanks CC…it follows along w/ the blog comments…probably evenly split
I was trying to figure out which poster was Jerkface!
OK, now I’m really starting to want Laura Posada’s book. I think I may be making a stop at Barnes & Noble this weekend.
Chip – yes he has. It wasn’t a criticism of Cashman, I acknowledged he was emphasizing the youth movement – hope it continues. $135 million for six players aged 32 to 39 is tough.
Jim_Duquette Rizzo #Nats GM: “we’re interested in Cliff Lee but definitely not putting all our eggs in that basket” on @MLBNetworkRadio
YankeesWFAN Posada’s surgery today on left knee meniscus tear. Scoped similar to Sabthia’s recent procedure.
The article did a good job of articulating what I tried to say this morning. He’s one of the 5 best SS’s ever (top 3 according to Posnanski), but he’s still overrated and underrated at the same time.
Curtis Granderson was on Martha yesterday and gave her a Yankee throw that was white with blue pinstripes, a players number on it and it could be personalized to include a name.
I tried to find it on yankees.com to no success. Has anyone seen these in their Yankee shopping travels? Santa needs to know.
As for the defensive metrics that suggest Jeter is among the worst shortstops in the league, the scout pointed to Teixeira and Cano’s negative UZR as one reason that he doesn’t believe those stats mean much.
“That’s crazy,” said the scout, who rated both players between 75-80 for defense on a 20-80 scale said. “If that’s what UZR says, then flush it down the toilet. Those guys are exceptional and their defense is in a class of its own.”
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blo.....z14u7feWjn
YankeesWFAN Cashman’s pitch to Lee is eventually about $ but there is a sales pitch. CC needed to hear it 2 yrs ago. Guessing BC wears his WS ring.
pat-just call up Granderson and tell him to bring you one.
Erin
I could tweet him but his answer would likely be someone from the PR staff handed it to me as I was walking onto the set so I don’t know.
pat-you’re probably right. LOL
That’s weird that it’s not on the Yankees website.
West Coast Yankee Fan November 10th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Chip – yes he has. It wasn’t a criticism of Cashman, I acknowledged he was emphasizing the youth movement – hope it continues. $135 million for six players aged 32 to 39 is tough.
——————————
WCYF – yeah but that’s also a little misleading since the majority of those guys (CC, Lee, Tex) are closer to 32 than 39.
Also, 3 of the oldest players probably won’t be around after next season (Andy, Jorge, Mo) and the other two – Derek and Alex – still have plenty in the tank.
Erin says:
November 10, 2010 at 12:55 pm
OK, now I’m really starting to want Laura Posada’s book. I think I may be making a stop at Barnes & Noble this weekend. ?
——
Its a really good book. It made me appreciate how hard he worked during their trying time. Its also a sweet story, it flips between Jorge and Laura’s perpsectives and there are little note boxes from outsiders giving their perspective, a nice foreword by Joe Torre and a few pages of family pictures.
tyanksfan-thanks for the description! Yep, looks like I’ll be doing a little shopping on Saturday.
# Chip November 10th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
West Coast Yankee Fan November 10th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Chip – yes he has. It wasn’t a criticism of Cashman, I acknowledged he was emphasizing the youth movement – hope it continues. $135 million for six players aged 32 to 39 is tough.
——————————
WCYF – yeah but that’s also a little misleading since the majority of those guys (CC, Lee, Tex) are closer to 32 than 39.
Also, 3 of the oldest players probably won’t be around after next season (Andy, Jorge, Mo) and the other two – Derek and Alex – still have plenty in the tank.
****************
I believe that a players prime is from 26-32, there are outliers of course. You need experience in combination with youth, it’s just that $135 million is a huge cross to bear. Not to mention many of these contracts are way too long.
We’ll see how Cashman handles it going forward.
Andy comes back next year, even just for the sake of $10M.
I have to give props to Jon Heyman for this. It’s right on the money IMO.
The Yankees’ desperation (to sign Cliff Lee) has to be clear by now. There are several reasons for this:
1. There is no good second choice. They know Royals ace Zack Greinke won’t accept a trade to New York (nor would they want to force the big city on him, anyway) and that the next-best free-agent pitchers are Jorge de la Rosa and Carl Pavano. While De La Rosa’s a talented pitcher, he’s nowhere near Lee’s stratosphere (as for Pavano, there’s no need to get into that for obvious reasons).
2. They can afford it. Yankee revenues are crazy high (though they aren’t exactly known as teams don’t reveal them); we do know the franchise was estimated to be worth $1.6 billion by Forbes in April of this year.
3. Javier Vazquez, who didn’t work out again in New York, is gone. Burnett is a major question mark following his abysmal season. And Andy Pettitte remains uncertain to return (though the suspicion is that he might).
4. Lee kills the Yankees. The Yankees once signed Pavano, Tony Womack and others after they had a good moment or two against them. But Lee frightens them after having his way with them the past two postseasons.
WCYF -
He’s going to handle it the only way he can. Keep augmenting his older players with kids from the farm or younger players brought in via trade.
He has built a very strong farm system that is starting to make its way to the majors – Montero, Nunez and Laird this year, the pitchers just behind them, Heathcott and Mesa moving up too – not all of them will make it to the Yankees – but the ones who don’t will be traded for players like Granderson.
Look – the A-Rod deal was out of his hands. It is what it is.
Derek is a special circumstance – we all know that.
AJ was a win in that the Yankees needed him and they won a championship with him
Those are really the only bad contracts in the bunch.
Heyman has the Yanks signing Benoit…..
Joaquin Benoit: Yankees. The Yankees go for the best, and he was arguably baseball’s best set-up man last year
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....z14uIsvVuJ
WCYF -
Heyman also could have added – if you look at the list of upcoming free agents there aren’t any pitchers of Lee’s caliber coming available
Tom -
I truly hope he’s wrong about Benoit.
As I said yesterday – he scares the daylights out of me.
I would much rather see the Yankees do what the Rays did and take a risk on bringing in a guy on a minor league deal and see if he has a season like Beniot did, than spend money on actually signing Benoit himself.
Chip he was talking about this year not the future.
The age argument really gets misconstrued in regard to the Yankees. The issue is not one of pure age. The Yankees did not get outplayed by a significantly younger team in the Rangers and the Yankees older players are still on the whole very productive. Age is not the issue in it of itself.
The problem is the sheer amount of money allocated towards older players and how much money those players receive relative to their production.
The scout in the Feinstein article says basically what I was saying this morning….there is more to playing SS than who has the most right to left range.
Benoit = Kyle Farnsworth
Blake
Yeah there are definitely other factors involved here but how do they compare to range and how much do they make up for Dereks dimished range.
Waves question is important. If Jeter has these other strengths that really do compensate at a significant portion for his lack of range why are we seeing this 130 assist discrepency?
I’m curious as to what you see in his defense that makes up for his range because I don’t and would like to.
New Post: The “best” of the rest
LGY,
How.can you draw absolute conclusions by looking at total assists when there are.so many variables involved there? Burnett, Vasquez, and Hughes don’t.throw a lot of ground balls….etc. Jeter has very sure hands, positions himself well, tracks pop ups great, comes in on the ball great, turns the double play well, is a good cut off man, and leads on the field. Those are a few good things he does in addition to his diminished range…..again, you have to look at the whole player.
“Thanks to the AP for this consummate shot of Pettitte – one that TV directors have been loving for more than a decade.”
And audiences as well…
Andy’s coming back but he does have a possible issue with Clemens perjury trial which is scheduled to begin in early Spring.