Yankees rumors: Andy Pettitte one step closer to decision

Veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte is one step closer to making his decision on whether to return to the Yankees for the 2013 season. Pettitte has begun his regular offseason training program in order to gauge "how his body will react" before making any final decisions, reports Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News:

Andy Pettitte wasn’t willing to commit to the Yankees last winter until he knew for certain his body was ready to go through the grind of a baseball season. It appears he’s testing his 40-year-old frame once again before making any decisions about 2013.

According to a source, Pettitte has already started his offseason training program, wanting "to see how his body will react" before informing the Yankees of his plans for next season.

An earlier rumor speculated that Pettitte would come to a decision by the end of this week, but Feinsand’s source was much more tentative with his estimate, stating only that the left-hander will decide "soon".

With the winter meetings starting next Monday, it makes sense that Pettitte would decide between now and then so as to not handcuff the Yankees in their decision-making while in Nashville next week.