WITH CC AND AJ in the bag, the Yankees are hardly sweating on whether AP accepts their offer of a one-year deal worth $10 million.
The AP I’m referring to is Andy Pettitte, who is hardly endearing himself to Yanks fans by humming and haaing over whether to re-sign for “the only team I want to play for.”
Now one well-informed baseball scribe is reporting that the reason for Pettitte’s prevarication is that another team is willing to give him a three-year, $36 million deal.
Even allowing for the fact that despite the recession, baseball clubs are still handing out long-term contracts like confetti, this story beggar’s belief.
True, Philadelphia have rewarded 46-year-old pitcher Jamie Moyer with a new, two-year contract. But then Moyer did play a leading role in helping the Phillies win the World Series this year.
Veteran pitcher wants better offer
For all his past achievements in pinstripes, Pettitte couldn’t even help the Yankees reach the playoffs last season. Reportedly troubled throughout the year by a nagging shoulder injury, he went 14-14 with an ERA of 4.54.
At 36 years old, Pettitte was said to be contemplating following Mike Mussina into retirement.
Now we are being led to believe by his representatives that he is actually considering pitching for another three years – and that someone is prepared to pay him $12 million a year to do so.
It’s the right time of year for fairy tales. Could this be another tall story leaked in the hope that the moneybags Yankees will increase their offer?
That’s quite possible, given that the agents representing CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett waited patiently in the wings until the price was right.
What general manager Brian Cashman should do now is call Pettitte’s bluff by telling him it’s now or never to accept the Yanks’ offer.
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