Pettitte Declines Option

by Eli Greenspan on Nov 5, 2007 8:51 PM EST

According to sources, Andy Pettitte has declined his option and is now a free agent. "I have spoken with Brian Cashman, who has reiterated what Hank Steinbrenner said about the Yankees wanting to give Andy all the time he needs to decide about next season," Pettitte's agent, Randy Hendricks, said Monday in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "Accordingly, we are declining to exercise the option for 2008 and Andy will declare free agency in order to free up a roster spot for the Yankees." Pettitte is the new Roger Clemens, meaning he will wait till May on whether to pitch the following season. I expect him to come back, just not with the Yankees. He is a big fan of Joe Torre and Don Mattingly and I think his comments saying it was Yankees or nothing were generated before he became manager. Torre could definitely lobby Colletti to sign Pettitte, and I think they will inform Pettitte of their interest, but give him all the time he needs to make up his mind. Pettitte was 15-9 with a 4.05 ERA for the Yankees this year, including 11-3 after the All-Star break. The Yankees have gotten weaker, and this now might lead to the departure of Jorge Posada, maybe even Mariano Rivera.

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

ohh my god u dont take the word of any man do u andy will be a yankee or nada

by Anonymous on Nov 5, 2007 9:15 PM EST reply actions

yeah, eli that post just doesn't make sense. andy is a class act and unlike arod wont be a clown about this.

why would posada and mo leave? they'll stay as long as the yankees overspend on them, which they will. pettite and arod leaving have nothing to do with them staying or going.

cabrera? c'mon. why would the yankees give up their young pitchers for another clown?

by Anonymous on Nov 5, 2007 9:36 PM EST reply actions

pettite will not leave. period end of story. stop thinking he will.
mo and jorge will be back next year, and the yankees arent falling apart. they basically fired their manager, if they wanted him back, they would have given him his old contract, but renewed it.

as for arod, he left. i agree i see the yankees pursuing cabrera, which i think is a smart move. trade away melky kennedy and a few lower prospects for him. the yankees will be fine.

by Anonymous on Nov 5, 2007 11:10 PM EST reply actions

i'm enjoying the fall of the evil empire very much, it's like Luke blowing up the Death Star in ep. iv

by timy1 on Nov 6, 2007 1:06 AM EST reply actions

cabrara commands more than melkly and kennedy. i would love if a deal like this could happen but i don't see it going down.

evil empire? star wars references? you guys really need to get out more.

by Anonymous on Nov 6, 2007 4:55 AM EST reply actions