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Thursday, January 08, 2009

Davidoff: Pettitte not happy with Yankees right now

Andy Pettitte is extremely unhappy with how his negotiations have gone with the Yankees, and the lefthander might be softening on his opposition to rejoining the Astros.

What once seemed a fait accompli - Pettitte returning to the Yankees for a 12th season in pinstripes - now appears increasingly in jeopardy, although the two sides continue to communicate and they ultimately rank as each other’s first choice.

...Now, however, the Yankees seem to head Pettitte’s enemies list. The Astros have done very little this offseason, vowing financial restraint in light of the national economy. Yet Pettitte has a strong relationship with Houston ace Roy Oswalt, who in turn has a good relationship with Astros owner Drayton McLane. The Astros could stretch their payroll to make room for the Houston resident Pettitte.

Repoz Posted: January 08, 2009 at 03:07 PM | 40 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: astros, yankees

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1. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: January 08, 2009 at 03:37 PM (#3046271)

He's certainly a delicate little flower.

2. RJ in TO Posted: January 08, 2009 at 03:39 PM (#3046273)

Truly, I weep for his suffering.

3. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: January 08, 2009 at 03:42 PM (#3046277)

And now Pettitte's negotiating through the media.

4. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: January 08, 2009 at 03:45 PM (#3046281)

Yet Pettitte has a strong relationship with Houston ace Roy Oswalt, who in turn has a good relationship with Astros owner Drayton McLane. The Astros could stretch their payroll to make room for the Houston resident Pettitte.

So does this mean that Andy is going to pass Roy a note in Study Hall and then Roy is totally going to talk to Dayton about letting Andy come to the part at the Juice Box this year? Because that would be so uncool for Andy to think he can just use Roy like that. And I still don't know what to do about Heidi and Spencer!

5. Big Train Posted: January 08, 2009 at 04:02 PM (#3046303)

And now Pettitte's negotiating through the media.

Indeed, this is all very sad. and it reminds me of the Red Sox way of doing things, which is simply too bad.

6. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: January 08, 2009 at 04:05 PM (#3046310)

You gotta stop taking this so personal, Andy. It's strictly business.

7. JRVJ (formerly Delta Socrates) Posted: January 08, 2009 at 04:26 PM (#3046332)

As a Yankee fan, do I think the Yanks should bring back Pettitte at $10MM? Yes.

Do I think the Yanks should bring back Pettitte for more than $10MM? Maybe if it's for a little over $10MM, but hell no if it's for anywhere close to the $16MM he got in 2009.

As a Yankee fan, would I mind terribly if Pettitte bolts back to Houston because he didn't get paid somewhere in the vicinity of $16MM?

Nope. The Yanks would be better if Pettitte pitches for them, but not THAT much better.

(If it were Mussina, then I would be screaming like crazy that the Yanks have to retain him, but Jim Caple notwithstanding, that ship seems to have sailed to the West).

8. Best Regards, Larry M. Posted: January 08, 2009 at 04:31 PM (#3046338)

The Yankees consider Pettitte their fifth starter. If Pettitte doesn't come back, Phil Hughes is their fifth starter. The Yankees also consider Hughes to be a potential future All Star.

They're willing to pay him ~$10 million to give them security in the 5th spot and depth in case of injuries to the top of the rotation, but they're not going to pay $16 million for an older, injury-prone pitcher for the last spot in the rotation, blocking someone who they think could be a great pitcher very soon.

Get over it, Andy. If you want to be a Yankee, these are the circumstances under which you can be one. If you don't like the terms, farewall and good luck, but don't be pissed at the Yankees for not changing their plans to suit you and only you.

9. Rough Carrigan

Posted: January 08, 2009 at 04:50 PM (#3046359)

Isn't this where Hank is supposed to bluster that it's the highest honor in the universe to put on a yankee uniform and that if this . . Pettitte nobody doesn't want to, then fine. We're done negotiating with him. It's over.

And a few days later the yankees capitulate to his salary demands and sign him.

10. Obama Bomaye Posted: January 08, 2009 at 04:56 PM (#3046368)

SIGN ANDY PETTITTE!!!!!

11. Toolsy McClutch Posted: January 08, 2009 at 05:40 PM (#3046444)

I think that taking AP over PH is lunacy, even if the dollars evened out, but maybe I'm a Phil fanboy. I still think he's going to be awesome.

12. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: January 08, 2009 at 05:42 PM (#3046450)

They're not taking Pettitte over Hughes, if they sign Pettitte. They'd be signing Pettitte in order to make Phil Hughes their 6th starter, so that their 6th starter isn't Coke, Aceves and the remains of Ian Kennedy. 6th starters pitch 100-150 IP in a season, and I don't expect the Yankees want too much more than that from Hughes.

13. KronicFatigue Posted: January 08, 2009 at 05:50 PM (#3046456)

Why is Andy getting so upset? The Yankees made that original offer in a single day. And they withdrew the offer in a single day. Why should they be judged for TWO DAYS out of their entire existence? God knows that they are a fair organization.

14. Tripon Posted: January 08, 2009 at 05:56 PM (#3046463)

Pettitte doesn't seem to realize that the Yankees offer is likely the high offer this off season. Nobody is going to pay him close to $16 million to pitch next year. Nobody.

15. Cowboy Popup Posted: January 08, 2009 at 05:57 PM (#3046465)

the remains of Ian Kennedy.

Ian Kennedy catches a lot of #### for a 23 year old who just had a really good half season in AAA and was pretty damn good (1.56 ERA, 31 Ks in 34 IP) in winter league. I mean, yeah, he was awful in the Majors last year, but he's hardly the worst option in the league for 6th-8th starter.

Edit: I know I quoted a throw away joke comment, but I'm insanely bored.

16. Obama Bomaye Posted: January 08, 2009 at 05:59 PM (#3046469)

Plus, his ears are more in style these days.

17. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: January 08, 2009 at 06:00 PM (#3046472)

Pettitte doesn't seem to realize that the Yankees offer is likely the high offer this off season.

I would take pretty heavy odds to bet the other side. If Pettitte either goes unsigned, or takes a salary of 1/10 or less, I'll be shocked.

18. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: January 08, 2009 at 06:01 PM (#3046474)

CP- yeah, I know. i looked up his Scranton numbers after posting, and he was good. I've seen him pitch a bunch, now, though, and I just don't see a major league starter. how does he beat AAA hitters without an out pitch? I don't understand.

19. Cowboy Popup Posted: January 08, 2009 at 06:06 PM (#3046481)

I've seen him pitch a bunch, now, though, and I just don't see a major league starter. how does he beat AAA hitters without an out pitch? I don't understand.

I agree. It's very confusing. It's not like he has great control either, so I don't understand it myself. Maybe he got an extreme case of the jitters this year in the bigs? There's no way the guy who pitched this year is the same guy who so easily whoops on AAA hitters, can't be. I've considered that he is an extremely young AAAA player, which would be depressing, but I'm not ready to give up on him yet.

20. SG Posted: January 08, 2009 at 06:11 PM (#3046485)

Kennedy's control isn't good enough right now for him to get by in the majors. His translated BB/9 in the minors is around 4 I think. His MLEs look pretty good aside from that, but I don't trust them at all.

I don't think it's just jitters, I just think MLB hitters lay off a lot of the stuff that he can use to get minor leaguers out.

Of course, he is just 23 and could improve enough to make himself useful, but right now I don't see it.

21. aleskel

Posted: January 08, 2009 at 06:11 PM (#3046486)

It's very confusing. It's not like he has great control either, so I don't understand it myself. Maybe he got an extreme case of the jitters this year in the bigs?

I thought he DID have great control - at least that's what I saw in his ML cup-o-coffee in 2007. I do think it was jitters - he really seemed to lose it with men on base.

22. Cowboy Popup Posted: January 08, 2009 at 06:18 PM (#3046500)

I don't think it's just jitters, I just think MLB hitters lay off a lot of the stuff that he can use to get minor leaguers out.

Replace minor leaguers with Nippon Leaguers and you have Kei Igawa. Man that would be depressing.

I thought he DID have great control - at least that's what I saw in his ML cup-o-coffee in 2007. I do think it was jitters - he really seemed to lose it with men on base.

Even then he walked 9 in 19 IP. He walked 12 in 34 in the PWL (Puerto Rican Winter League?). AAA players seem to be the only baseball players he doesn't walk all the time. He was much worse with men on (1.029 OPS against) but he wasn't all that good with the bases empty (.823 OPS).

23. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: January 08, 2009 at 06:26 PM (#3046510)

Replace minor leaguers with Nippon Leaguers and you have Kei Igawa. Man that would be depressing.

Do the Yankees still have Colter Bean? Because that can be their closer on the "AAAA All-Star Team" they seem to intent on assembling.

24. 100 Years is Nothing Posted: January 08, 2009 at 06:33 PM (#3046519)

If the Yankees weren't always so cheap, he woulda signed a long time ago for what HE wants.

25. Yeaarrgghhhh Posted: January 08, 2009 at 06:34 PM (#3046521)

Why is Pettitte attracting so much less attention than Lowe? Their projections are pretty similar, and Pettitte is only a year older.

26. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: January 08, 2009 at 06:36 PM (#3046526)

Why is Pettitte attracting so much less attention than Lowe? Their projections are pretty similar, and Pettitte is only a year older.

Because he's made it pretty clear he only wants to pitch in New York (possibly for only the Yankees) and Houston (or possibly Texas). Other teams know better than to waste their time.

27. Yeaarrgghhhh Posted: January 08, 2009 at 06:52 PM (#3046550)

If someone offers him $2-3M more per year than the Yankees or Astros, is he really going to turn them down? Pettitte for 2 years/$26M could be a steal for a team like the Brewers or Mets.

28. Mayor Blomberg Posted: January 08, 2009 at 06:58 PM (#3046563)

I don't want to see the NYY spend more than $10M for him. On the other hand, I'd enjoy watching the HTN fans decide what to do with him back on the team after the trashing they gave him on the Chron's discussion boards last year.

29. Random Transaction Generator Posted: January 08, 2009 at 07:03 PM (#3046573)

If someone offers him $2-3M more per year than the Yankees or Astros, is he really going to turn them down? Pettitte for 2 years/$26M could be a steal for a team like the Brewers or Mets.

I would love it if the Jays swooped in and grabbed him at that price.
After losing Burnett and with the injuries to the young guys, Toronto needs another quality arm.

30. Mayor Blomberg Posted: January 08, 2009 at 07:07 PM (#3046577)

it's started, actually: Solomon: Just Maybe Perttitte ...

31. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: January 08, 2009 at 07:16 PM (#3046601)

AAA players seem to be the only baseball players he doesn't walk all the time.

I'm developing a theory about this. It's still a bit sketchy, but it has something to do with AAA umpires.

32. Ray (RDP)

Posted: January 08, 2009 at 07:23 PM (#3046613)

Andy Pettitte is extremely unhappy with how his negotiations have gone with the Yankees, and the lefthander might be softening on his opposition to rejoining the Astros.

This couldn't be. Larry has assured us that the Yankees are the only market Pettitte is willing to consider.

33. base ball chick Posted: January 08, 2009 at 07:44 PM (#3046649)

i do NOT want to see that prima donna whiny jackass back in houston

34. Srul Itza Posted: January 08, 2009 at 08:04 PM (#3046690)

Be specific -- which prima donna whiny jackass are you talking about? God knows, there are so many to choose from.

35. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: January 08, 2009 at 08:20 PM (#3046731)

If someone offers him $2-3M more per year than the Yankees or Astros, is he really going to turn them down? Pettitte for 2 years/$26M could be a steal for a team like the Brewers or Mets.

Prefacing this with the obvious caveat that I am not Andy Pettitte, yes. Houston is home, and New York is his second home. I suppose the Mets or Rangers could sneak in, since they are geographically close to the choices #1 and #1a. But anyone else? Nope.

When the Dodgers were floated as a possibility, for example, Joe Torre himself said that he talked to him and:

"[Pettitte] was always married to the Yankees, the excitement playing for the Yankees...I called him only because his agent called Ned [Colletti]...He never said no to anything, but just from talking to him, I know the Yankees are his first choice. I wasn't about to talk him out it, knowing Andy like I do."

36. Tripon Posted: January 08, 2009 at 09:19 PM (#3046824)

"[Pettitte] was always married to the Yankees, the excitement playing for the Yankees...I called him only because his agent called Ned [Colletti]...He never said no to anything, but just from talking to him, I know the Yankees are his first choice. I wasn't about to talk him out it, knowing Andy like I do."

Left unsaid is that the Dodgers would lowball Pettitte because they're even less interested of paying a guy in the back of their rotation major money.

37. Yeaarrgghhhh Posted: January 08, 2009 at 09:38 PM (#3046850)

I understand that the Yankees are his first choice, but if the Yankees and Astros are only willing to offer him something like 1 year at $10M, and the Blue Jays (or whoever) offered him 2 years, $26M, I have a hard time seeing him turn that down.

38. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: January 08, 2009 at 09:48 PM (#3046861)

..if the Yankees and Astros are only willing to offer him something like 1 year at $10M, and the Blue Jays (or whoever) offered him 2 years, $26M, I have a hard time seeing him turn that down

Yeah, but I'd expect the Blue Jays (or whoever) to figure that he'd just be using them to leverage the Yankees or Astros into sweetening the pot, so why bother?

39. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: January 08, 2009 at 09:57 PM (#3046871)

I understand that the Yankees are his first choice, but if the Yankees and Astros are only willing to offer him something like 1 year at $10M, and the Blue Jays (or whoever) offered him 2 years, $26M, I have a hard time seeing him turn that down.

That's fair, but let's not forgot there was the mysterious $36/3 offer that supposedly was floated for Pettitte earlier this off-season. So either Andy's people just made that up, or he wasn't interested.

And Pettitte has gone through the 'Maybe I'll retire' bit the past couple of off-seasons.

Put it this way, if he pitches his home games anywhere but the State of New York or Texas next season, I will be stunned.

40. Best Regards, Larry M. Posted: January 09, 2009 at 12:44 AM (#3047067)

I love this quote from Blomberg's link:

This guy ditched us after going to the World Series for more money, the cost of living didn't effect his decision then and he clearly showed no loyalty.

Yeah, the guy showed no loyalty by leaving the team he spent THREE WHOLE SEASONS with to go back to the only other team he ever played for. How dare he not show the loyalty that he so clearly owed to the Astros!

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Thursday, January 08, 2009

Davidoff: Pettitte not happy with Yankees right now

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