Yankees Fill Pettitte's Spot Via Trade?

The fallout from Pettitte retiring is causing all kinds of rumors on the internet. Most experts seem to think the Yankees will make some kind of move before opening day, instead of banking on guys like Nova, Colon, Mitre, ect at the back end of the rotation. The question now is who would be available?

Grienke already got dealt to the Brewers, the Indians are saying that Carmona is not on the market (though I have a hard time believing that), Felix Hernandez seems to be just a dream, and Blanton just costs too much for what they would get in return. Their best option might be to turn to the A's who love to trade guys for more prospects, and a player that might fit is left hander Gio Gonzalez. Gio is coming off a really nice year (15-9 3.23 ERA) and would fit the mold of being a Red Sox killer, since the Sox have so many lefties in their lineup.

If it isn't Gio I think the Yankees are going to have to wait and see what teams fall out of the playoffs. The White Sox have arms to deal if they falter. Edwin Jackson could quickly be available, and another name to watch is John Danks. The White Sox have been trying to extend Danks for awhile now, but he seems happy to sit back and wait for free agency in 2 years. Since the White Sox minor league system is pretty terrible they could easily move one of these two guys to rebuild it quickly.

There is a lot of panic in Yankeeland recently, and it will be interesting to see if they make some kind of overreacting move before the season starts to calm the nerves of the Yankee faithful.

Yankees About To Sign More Crap? (UPDATED)

It starting to sound that way....

"The Yankees have added Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia in the last week, but the team is still in contact with Kevin Millwood, reports Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman (Twitter link). It could be that the Yankees just want to give themselves as many veteran starting options as they can, or, as Heyman opines, "they're growing more worried" that Andy Pettitte will retire. Pettitte's retirement would leave the Bombers with two open rotation spots that would be contested between Colon, Garcia, Sergio Mitre, Andrew Brackman, Ivan Nova and potentially Millwood (MLBTradeRumors)."

Wow Cliff Lee really did a number on this team, huh? Last year Millwood was 4-16 with a 5.10 ERA. It really does seem like the Yankees are just going to sign as many pitchers that used to be good and hopes one bounces back. Out of the 3 old fart (Colon, Millwood, and Garcia) I would say Garcia has the best shot. I still think Pettitte will eventually be back, but if I was a Yankees fan I would really be worried with all these signings.

***UPDATED***

Sources say Andy Pettitte will announce his retirement Friday!

HAHAHAHAHA, goodbye Yankees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andy Pettitte Update

It's odd that a 38 year old pitcher would be such a story line for a team with the resources that New York has, but that is just the state of the Yankees these days...

"With spring training fast approaching, the New York Yankees seemed to be preparing for life without Andy Pettitte. But there have been a few not-so-subtle hints that the veteran left-hander may be willing to postpone his retirement. SI.com's Jon Heyman tweeted that some industry sources believe Pettitte will pitch in 2011, based on the fact that he is working out in preparation for the possibility. In a later post, Heyman says the Yankees are prepared to offer Pettitte $12 million. MSNBC.com's Craig Calcaterra reported that a source close to Pettitte says there is a "very strong possibility" that the lefty decides to play this coming season (ESPN)."

The fact that he is now working out would lead me to believe that he is coming back, but I am sticking with my thinking that he will pull a Roger Clemens and join the team after the season starts. The Yankees really need to get Pettitte to come back, right now they have CC Sabtahia, Phil Hughes A.J. Burnett, and then whatever combination of Colon, Ivan Nova or Sergio Mitre to fill in the last two spots. So, if the Yankees are going to be able to keep up with the Red Sox they are going to need Pettitte to come back, and Burnett to bounce back.

Andy Pettitte Update

"Spring training is less than a month away and the New York Yankees are patiently waiting for Andy Pettitte to make up his mind.

As Pettitte ponders retirement, there was at least one encouraging sign for the Yankees. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said on Wednesday that he had spoken to Pettitte in the last week and that the hurler was starting to get into baseball shape, just in case he decides to pitch in 2011. "I believe he is throwing," Girardi said at Yankee Stadium. "He wants to be prepared, whatever his decision is (ESPN)."

I keep going back and forth on whether or not I think he will come back. Today, I feel that he is going to come back, but kind of do what his buddy Roger Clemens used to do and pitch a half a season. The Yankees can't argue, because right now their only reported alternative is guys already in the organization and Justin Duchscherer, so basically Pettitte has full control and can get whatever money he wants.

Pettitte Leaning Towards Retirement

"Jack Curry of the YES Network tweets Monday that Yankees GM Brian Cashman says Pettitte currently is leaning toward retirement. "In a month," Cashman stated, "maybe that changes (ESPN)."

Wow, this would be devastating for the Yankees. After losing out on Cliff Lee the Yankees really need Pettitte to come back for one more year. Maybe Pettitte is looking at this roster and realizing they are probably not good enough to win it all this year with the way their roster (especially pitching) is currently constructed. I still expect him to comeback, but if he doesn't all that talk about how the Yankees lefties are going to shutdown the Sox lineup will go out the window.

Yankees One Step Closer To Signing Cliff Lee

"The winter meetings are less than a week away, and there are signs Cliff Lee will land with the Yankees once the baseball world gathers in Orlando, reports George King of the New York Post.

There have been conflicting reports whether the Yankees have offered Lee a six-year deal worth $140 million. If that is true, one AL executive said it will be enough to get it done. "At that money (the Rangers) are out of it. That leaves the Yankees," the executive tells King (ESPN)."

This blows for Red Sox fans as this will obviously give the Yankees the best pitching staff going into the 2011 season, but we have known he was going there since the middle of last season, so whatever. The question is what this could mean for the rest of the offseason. I actually think this will take the Yankees out of the races for players like Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth. This could help the Sox lower the price, but not by much as the Angels are rumored to be going hard after Crawford (and who the fuck wants Jayson Werth anyways).

As for the Rangers, most rumors suggest they will try to land Andy Pettitte, but I don't see them pulling that off, so their best option might be to pull off a trade for Zach Greinke.

Andy Pettitte Injury Update

Andy Pettitte threw 35 pitches in a bullpen session Sunday and sounded optimistic that he could be back in the New York Yankees' rotation in around two weeks. Pettitte has been on the disabled list since July 19 with a strained left groin and the injury took longer to heal than expected. The Yankees seem much more optimistic that he'll be back in the next couple of weeks.

The Yankees really need Pettitte to be healthy and affective, because Burnett is going down the shitter, and Vasquez has already been sent to the bullpen. The health of Pettitte and A-Rod will be the key to Yankees making the playoffs, and beyond. Personally I think they are in a lot of trouble.

Andy Pettitte Out 4 to 5 Weeks

New York Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte is expected to miss four to five weeks with a Grade 1 left groin strain suffered in the third inning of Sunday's 9-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. ESPN

This is certainly good news for the Sox (even though I think they got knocked out for the season this past weekend). Andy Pettitte has been somewhat of an anomaly this year whose 11-2 with a 2.88 ERA for the Yankees. He has really been the back bone for this rotation, so hopefully this will the Yankees into a terrible tailspin and crash faster than you can say Cory Lidle.

Pettitte Coming Back

"The first step is complete for free agent left-hander Andy Pettitte's return to the world champion New York Yankees next season as they seek to repeat. Pettitte, who has indicated a preference to play for the Yankees if he came back for a 16th season, has decided to pitch in 2010, major league sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney at baseball's winter meetings. For the 37-year-old left-hander, it's now just a matter of working out a deal with the Yankees, the sources told Olney Monday morning (ESPN)."

Pettitte is not what he once was, but he is a solid middle of the rotation guy (14-8 with a 4.16 ERA) and he is always there for the Yankees when they need him in the playoffs (He went 4-0 in five starts in the postseason with a 3.52 ERA). The Yankees will obviously be very strong again next season. The question is are the Red Sox ready to pony up the money to get back in the race?

Pettitte Back With Yankees

"Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees are closing in on a one-year contract that would keep the left-hander in pinstripes (Sportsline)."

No one should really be surprised by this, but the Yankees and Pettitte has basically finished up a 1 year deal. I haven't read about how much the contract is worth, but it is believed to be less than the $16 million he made last year. So, with Pettitte apparently back in pinstripes here is what their rotation looks like.

1. C. Sabathia
2. A. Burnett
3. C. Wang
4. J. Chamberlain
5. A. Pettitte

Remember that the Yankees also have Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes. If I was them I would have Joba back in the bullpen. I still think that is where he is best, and the Yankees always need a setup man. Either way the Yankees seem to have a deep rotation, IF (big if) everyone can stay healthy.

**UPDATE** Pettitte offically signed a 1 year deal with the Yankees for $5.5 million. Pettitte can make an additional $6.5 million on performance bonuses and bonuses based on time on the active roster.

MLB Rumors

Things are getting crazy in the MLB, here is a quick breakdown...

Andy Pettitte - Reports are that he will eventually sign back with the Yankees. No shock here, I think we all knew he is basically going to finish his career in pinstripes.

Jason Giambi - Not a big market for the former MVP. The only team that seems interested in him are the A's, but I think the market will really start to shape itself after Teixeira is signed. I wouldn't be surprised to see if the Angels go after him, if they really out of the Teixeira talks.

Mark Teixeira - As DP related earlier the Angels are out of the running for Mark Teixeira. I don't believe it, I think this is the teams (including Boston) way of saying enough is enough and Teixeira has to make up his mind of where he wants to play.

Manny Ramirez - The Yankees have denied that they offered Manny a 3 year deal. The Dodgers offered him a 2 year deal and he turned that down, but I think the Dodgers will step their offer up a year, and include a team option. Manny is looking for a 4 year deal worth around $100 million.

-BMack

Pettitte Addresses Media

Andy Pettitte today addressed the media. I am not sure why I bothered watching it, but I thought maybe he would say something interesting. Boy was I wrong, he said nothing. He had a nice opening statement saying that he knows he did something wrong, and he hopes no kids follow what he has done (he said this in his stupid southern dialect). He also stated that the only reason he did this was to come back from injury (which I could see). This was a waste of time though, he wouldn't answer any questions about Roger Clemens, which was the only reason anyone turned this fucking debacle on. Fuck you Pettitte for wasting my time, I don't care how you found God's strength to get through this. Thanks for nothing...

-BMack