Yankees rumors: Sources are 'confident' Pettitte will return in 2013

Veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte has yet to inform the New York Yankees whether he plans to return or not next season, but everyone Joel Sherman of the NY Post has talked to is "confident" that Pettitte will come back for at least one more year:

Pettitte yet to tell #Yankees plans, but everyone talk to seems confident will return. But expect him to want much more than $2.5M of '12

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 21, 2012

The 40-year-old Pettitte came out of retirement in March and made his way to the big-league club by May, pitching well for the Yankees over his first two months -- amassing a 3.22 ERA in nine starts. Pettitte's season hit a major set back at the end of June, however, when a line drive off the bat of Casey Kotchman broke his left ankle, sidelining the left-hander until mid-September.

All told Pettitte threw only seventy-five and a third innings in the 2012 regular season, far fewer than he expected when he began his comeback. The veteran left-hander indicated last month that his unexpectedly light work load this past season has made him strongly consider returning next year, but he has several things -- like family -- to factor in before making his decision.