It's no secret the Yankees have spent like madmen this offseason. After a year of "going young" -- which isn't enough time to truly "go young," but that's a different argument -- the Bronxies have decided that was stupid, and are now spending like never before on the best free agents money can buy. Except there's one free agent who isn't sexy, and who isn't dangling his services in front of a bunch of different teams. Andy Pettitte has sworn his dying loyalty to the Yankees. In return, they've offered him a one-year, $10 million deal, a pay cut from the $16 million he made last year. Not shabby, to be sure, but not exactly a king's ransom in the same winter as the C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira deals. And now, Pettitte has decided to turn that money down.
Why the difference in offers? For one, Pettitte is getting older, and is noticeably slowing down. His ERA+ dropped to 98 last year, below the league average for the first time in his long career. His past three season WHIPS have been above 1.4 each time. This is not an incredibly effective pitcher anymore.
That's not to mention the little problem of the Mitchell Report, which briefly shamed Pettitte and the Yankees during the year. Steroids are bad, mmmkay? If the Yankees are still feeling the sting from that little firestorm (do firestorms sting? mixed metaphor!) that might explain the sudden drop-off in money. Or, maybe they think $10 million is a fair offer for a 36-year-old pitcher. That's because it is.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-06-2009 @ 1:56PM
Dave said...
Take the money Andy.... take the money and sign with a team that has stood by you even when you were exposed as scum of the earth. Take the money and go out with a bang.... You where and are a beloved Yankee... but don't leave in this way. Don't be remembered as that ingrate. Andy don't be an idiot.
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1-06-2009 @ 11:22AM
Paul Kaminsky said...
If Andy were to come back he would be the 5th starter on the team. A 5th starter is not worth more than $10 million. They can save that $10 million and go with one of many young arms such as Hughes, Kennedy, Aceves, Coke, etc. Take a look at future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson. He will be playing for $8 million next year. He made $15 million in '08. And even though Johnson is no longer the #1 pitcher he was in the past, he is still better than Pettite. If a future Hall of Famer can take a pay cut to play for the lowly Giants, I think Pettitte should be THANKFUL to get an offer of $10 million from the Yanks. As much as I love Pettitte, I also would love to see one of the youngsters get a chance this year.
He was 2-7 with only 4 quality starts in his last 11 games of the year in AUG and SEPT. His ERA fell from 3.76 to 4.54 in that span. He went past the 6th IN in only 5 of those last 11 games. 5 of those games he didn't even get into the 6th IN. This spiral at the end of the season is what killed him.
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1-06-2009 @ 12:05PM
TheHulk said...
Eamonn wrote - It's no secret the Yankees have spent like madmen this offseason.
Then you wrote -- After a year of "going young" -- the Bronxies have decided that was stupid,
1. Yankee payroll went down 30mm
2. What was stupid about not trading Kennedy (23), Hughes (22) and Melky for the RIGHT TO PAY Santana $130mm, when all you had to do is wait and keep your young talent for a year and get CC.... You still have all your young talent...and by the way these kids have plenty of time to develop most 22year olds would fail thrown in to the # 3 spot in a rotation. Hughes will fair much better competing agianst the 5th starters.
I think Andy made a big mistake not taking (more then fair offer) $10mm to be a 4th or 5th starter on a team that is always competitive.
I think the real story is why isn't teams (like the Yanks, Mets Sox and others) lining up for Ben Sheets (30) with his stuff he is a true ace and imagine him in the 5th starter role with the Yanks he would get a ton of rest (in that role) through out the year. plus he's a steal in this market.
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1-06-2009 @ 12:49PM
John Lafitte said...
10 million?! What do they think you are, a dishwasher?! Why don't you go back to Houston where I'm sure they will pay you at least 5 million.
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1-06-2009 @ 12:59PM
Rick said...
Andy, You know New York and our expectations. There is no sentiment when it comes to players anymore. Look what happened to Bernie Williams. New York is criticized by those whose teams take a cut of the profit sharing from our spending which they never seem to invest in their own teams. For all teh Yankees are under the microscope for their spending, i have to hand it to the Steinbrenner family for trying to giv the city the best team possible each and every year. Come on back Andy, One more year, #5 starter in thenew Yankee Stadium then retire with the grace and dignity you've always shown in the past.
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1-06-2009 @ 4:46PM
Mark said...
Andy Pettitte just made a huge mistake. Just to be offered 10 million dollars for one year is still pretty special, and considering how poorly he pitched at the end of the year last season, he was lucky to be offered that much. He must feel that he can pitch the way he used to, but the results tell a far different story. I'm happier for the Yankees that he turned it down, and I'd be surprised if he gets an offer like that anywhere else. They have more than enough young arms that could compete for the 5th starter's job, and they all probably won't be combining to make anywhere near what Pettitte was offered as well.
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