Via Joel Sherman -
Andy Pettitte’s chances to return to the Yankees have dropped precipitously because in the aftermath of the Mark Teixeira signing the organization is now strongly inclined to lower the $10 million offer that the lefty already has been resistant to all offseason, the Post has learned.
Pettitte recently rejected the Yankees’ latest $10 million overture, and now – barring a wave of sentimentality by the Yanks or significant change of strategy by either side – that dollar figure very likely will not be offered again.
Multiple sources refused to divulge if the offer had been lowered already. But one executive briefed on the matter described both the chances of making a deal and the $10 million bid as on life support. Another executive said he did not believe that the $10 million offer was there to be taken any longer. A lowered offer almost certainly would assure the end of the prideful Pettitte’s second tour with the Yankees.
While I still think that having Andy Pettitte return to the Yankees, for just the 2009 season, is vital to New York’s chances to reach the post-season this year, at this point, it’s clear that Brian Cashman and the Brothers Stein do not feel the same way. Therefore, at this junction, Pettitte should pull the string on any other offer that he has out there – and, I hope that he has a stellar season and wins twenty games. He deserves it – and the Yankees front office deserves to watch it happen for some other team…because of the lack of respect that they have shown Andy this off-season.
16 Responses to “Sherman: Yanks To Lower Offer To Pettitte”
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January 6th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
You are wrong with your comments. They have shown him TOO MUCH respect. They stood by him last year, even though he hid the fact that he was a target in the Mitchell report. He had a MISERABLE second half of the season and was one of the reasons why we didn’t make the playoffs. He needed to remember the loyalty shown by the Yankee brass last year and take the $10M, which was VERY generous. Where’s he going? He’s dreaming if he thinks he’s getting more than $10M elsewhere. And if he does get it, so long.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
He still has that 3/36M offer on the table, right?
January 6th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
He had a MISERABLE second half of the season and was one of the reasons why we didn’t make the playoffs.
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I would say that of all the reasons the Yanks didn’t make the playoffs, Pettitte would probably be pretty far down on the list.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:38 am
Steve, you must be kidding. The Yankees have already been overpaying Pettitte. Given the current market, and Pettitte’s current level of performance. 10 million is more than enough. Sure, he would help the rotation a lot, and what is 3 million dollars to the Yankees right? But if they don’t want to give him the extra 2 or 3 million, that’s fine by me. We aren’t talking about being too cheap to sign CC or Tex. We are talking about a 5th starter, who was no good the 2nd half of last year. We stood behind him after the steroids and have treated him much better than he treated us.
To me, Pettitte is somewhat of a fraud, despite the fact I own his jersey. First, he did steroids, period. We can argue about his reasons, which I personally find somewhat acceptable compared to other player’s, but he nevertheless did ‘roids. Also, from what I understand, he first left NY because of an affair. He talks about Jesus and the Bible, but has plenty of troubles like the rest of us. He takes a moral high ground far too often for someone who can’t back it up with his actions. The Yankees have shown him plenty of respect, now its time he showed the Yankees some too. Why does sentimentality always mean the player gets paid more?
January 7th, 2009 at 1:44 am
In his last 11 starts for the Yankees in ‘08 Pettite was 2-7 with a 6.23 ERA. I think $10 million is more than generous.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:11 am
Ah, really Steve? I actually disagree. Based on what we’ve seen players receive recently (even if they are offensive players), I don’t think Andy will get a significantly better deal elsewhere.
January 7th, 2009 at 4:04 am
I agree with the comments in general. Pettitte doesn’t deserve the respect he once commanded. I am of the opinion that Pettitte gets a lot of leniency simply because of his classy looks. Other guys in the Mitchell report are jacked; overweight; huge heads etc… Pettitte still strolls around looking normal and healthy; and I think this plays into peoples’ perception of what the guy really is: someone who cheated on more than one occasion; pulled a diva-esque act last year with free agency; and appears to be doing it again.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:41 am
Andy & Co. overplayed their hand just like Manny did with LA. $10 million was/is more than a fair offer based on his recent actual and expected ‘09 pitching performance, plus the very real risk of a physial breakdown. I hope Andy takes it or retires. He’ll drop a notch in my book if he signs a similar or lower value contract somewhere else. If someone offers him 13+ they are 1) nuts and 2) entitled to his services. I sincerely doubt that an offer like that is or will be out there.
January 7th, 2009 at 7:57 am
$10 million is more than fair. I would like to have him back, but Pettitte is being a diva here, and all of his stuff about how he isn’t in it for the money and whatnot is a load. And after the way the Yanks treated him last offseason, how can he claim to be disrespected?
January 7th, 2009 at 8:00 am
“So, the Indians are willing to pay Carl Pavano close to $7 mill and the Yankees don’t want to pay more than $10 to Andy Pettitte. Go figure.”
how bout it from the other perspective then, if you buy into this premise.
if Pettitte was such an upgrade from what Pavano gives a team, why wouldnt the Indians throw in a couple more million, and offer Pettitte a reasonable fair market value option to choose over the Yankees?
January 7th, 2009 at 9:52 am
In the last year or so, I’ve noticed something. If I write something less than flattering about Phil Hughes – who, in the big picture, has done nothing for the Yankees yet at the big league level – I get nailed to a cross by many Yankees fans. At the same time, if I write something in praise of Andy Pettitte – who is one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the Yankees franchise – I also get nailed to a cross by many Yankees fans.
I think I need a bigger cross.
January 7th, 2009 at 9:58 am
But, are they the same fans?
Other than the fact that Hughes and Pettitte both pitched for the Yankees, they have nothing in common.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:20 am
In the last year or so, I’ve noticed something. If I write something less than flattering about Phil Hughes – who, in the big picture, has done nothing for the Yankees yet at the big league level – I get nailed to a cross by many Yankees fans. At the same time, if I write something in praise of Andy Pettitte – who is one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the Yankees franchise – I also get nailed to a cross by many Yankees fans.
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And what’s happened in the last year or so? Pettitte admitted to using PEDs.
No matter how much a guy has done for a team (and Pettitte has done a ton) the PED thing is always going to make some fans hate that player. I don’t know if I agree, but I can understand why some fans would feel that way.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:39 am
n the last year or so, I’ve noticed something. If I write something less than flattering about Phil Hughes – who, in the big picture, has done nothing for the Yankees yet at the big league level – I get nailed to a cross by many Yankees fans. At the same time, if I write something in praise of Andy Pettitte – who is one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the Yankees franchise – I also get nailed to a cross by many Yankees fans. Quote from steve
Honestly, Pettitte has got it done for the most part and he wants to be paid accordingly. It’s funny how the Yanks nickel and dime their homegrown talent and bid against themselves when it come to a player they covet.They blew everyone out of the water with the CC signing, only one other team was bidding on Burnit, and they made the highest bid on Teix by far( though i have heard scuttlebutt, that the Nats offered more, I’ll believe when I see confirmation on it) BUT Pettitte who is a known quantity and beloved Yankee can be nickeled and dimed. That 6 mill they are saving is going where? Tosign Manny for 25 mill? Give AP at least 13 mill then see what he says. He didn’t have the greatest season BUT he can pitch here. I saw that overweight, iffy in the postseason CC get megabucks and that jerk from Toronto who has never had pressure or thrown one big game pitch get megabucks (who knows how they’ll do in the cauldron of NYC), so giving Andy an extra 3 or 6 mill won’t kill them.A very pennywise poundfoolish decision by Cash Man and the Yankees.
Hughes and Pettitte? Please that is disrepectiveful. Until Hughes is able to string together a consistent run in triple AAA let alone the majors then people might think about talking about him at all.Pettitte has done tons for the NYYS and Hughes relatively nothing.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Just like they nickeled-and-dimed Jeter, Posada, and Mariano…. d’oh.
I’m a Pettitte fan, don’t get me wrong- but $10 million is a fair offer, actually a very good offer. Period. And that’s why I’m upset with him, because I do want him back and he’s being greedy.
January 26th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
[...] said in the past that having Andy Pettitte return to the Yankees, for just the 2009 season, is vital to New York’s [...]