Andy Pettitte makes a comeback

[machphantom]

http://youtu.be/txqiwrbYGrs?t=17s

[Mr Coffee]

Cashman in the booth during the game now explaining things.

[Mr Coffee]

[JohnnyEllis]

Really loved watching his games in 2010; he was painting with deep intelligence in the fearless been-there-done-that manner. Lots of great escape acts with RISP. Looking forward to seeing him again.

[Tifoso]

Holy carp, this is awesome news!!

Asssuming he makes the rotation, pretty much guarantees Phil to the pen, no?

[Tifoso]

Cashman in the booth during the game now explaining things.

Can you give us a short synopsis, amico mio?

[yankeesrule]

I know it won't happen, but I really really hope that he is put on the 25 man roster on April 13th just so his name can be announced on opening day and given a ridiculous ovation as he runs to the line.

[DiMaggio5CF]

I could be totally wrong but I think Cashman is hoping that Pettitte can make a strong comeback, and at the same time Hughes can re-establish some trade value where they can sell high on him.

I don't think this makes much sense. Hughes has one more arbitration year and then is slated to become a free agent, so he's not long-term cost controlled, especially if he's pitching well, so he's probably not attractive to a small market team. So that kind of rules out the possibility of trading him as the main piece for a guy off a small-market team that we really need.

And that leaves trading him to a contender. Why would the Yankees do that during the season, especially with the increased importance of winning the division? Another team in contention also likely won't be looking to deal solid big league talent. Trading Hughes to a solid team would likely bring back prospects, not big league talent. If the Yankees are going to make that kind of trade, they'd likely do it after the season, not during, in which case Pettitte is completely irrelevant.

[Mr Coffee]

Can you give us a short synopsis, amico mio?

Cashman said that back in December, Pettitte contacted him after hearing an interview between Cash and Michael Kay in which Kay asked him if he had heard from Andy or whatever. Cashman in the interview said something along the lines of 'we'll always have a spot for him if he wants it.'

Andy was intrigued by this and called Cashman-- he offered him $10-12M, but Pettitte said he wasn't ready-- he would work out for about six weeks and let him know. Cashman said he told Pettitte that he couldn't wait; he mentioned Pineda and Kuroda to him. Pettitte said he'd work out until he heard otherwise. About three weeks later Cash told him he was all set with his rotation, and that they didn't have the money to spend or a spot for him.

Andy then showed up to be a spring training coach and told Cashman that after stopping his workout for a week, he started working out again and hasn't stopped throwing. They then hammered out the minor league deal.

[teknetic]

the cynic in me wonders if they know something's wrong with one of the arms in the rotation

Heyman:

quote:

pettitte called the yankees. as one yankees person put it, "how do you say no?"

The Stadium is gonna go apesh...

[bcom33]

Can you give us a short synopsis, amico mio?

Jon Heyman ‏ @JonHeymanCBS "we have a lot of pitchers ... but there are very few andy pettittes." -- yankees gm brian cashman

Jon Heyman ‏ @JonHeymanCBS "if he's healthy, hes going to help us .. this man knows how to pitch.'' cashman again on pettitte

Joel Sherman ‏ @Joelsherman1 Cashman paints picture in which Pettitte wouldn't be ready to open season, take time, make sure legs even more than arms are right. #Yankees

[Tifoso]

especially with the increased importance of winning the division?

I'm sure it's really obvious, but you lost me

[DiMaggio5CF]

Heyman:

Like this: We needed you last year, guy, and you decided to hang 'em up. We've got pitching now. Go take a walk.

[dave8274]

I don't think this makes much sense. Hughes has one more arbitration year and then is slated to become a free agent, so he's not long-term cost controlled, especially if he's pitching well, so he's probably not attractive to a small market team. So that kind of rules out the possibility of trading him as the main piece for a guy off a small-market team that we really need.

And that leaves trading him to a contender. Why would the Yankees do that during the season, especially with the increased importance of winning the division? Another team in contention also likely won't be looking to deal solid big league talent. Trading Hughes to a solid team would likely bring back prospects, not big league talent. If the Yankees are going to make that kind of trade, they'd likely do it after the season, not during, in which case Pettitte is completely irrelevant.

Good points, though I think you could trade him to a NL contender. I don't see him in the team's long term plans, considering they want to get under $189 mil in 2014 and I doubt they want to give a guy who has been this inconsistent a long term deal. If he got off to a good start, waiting till the end of the season just gives him more time to implode or get hurt again and kill his trade value.

[wexy]

The AARP has lost a valued member.
Hope he succeeds.

[Tifoso]

Thanks guys

[yankeesrule]

It doesn't say which affiliate he'll be playing for. I'd love to take a drive to Trenton or wherever SWB will be playing this year to see him pitch.

[Tifoso]

Good points, though I think you could trade him to a NL contender. I don't see him in the team's long term plans, considering they want to get under $189 mil in 2014 and I doubt they want to give a guy who has been this inconsistent a long term deal. If he got off to a good start, waiting till the end of the season just gives him more time to implode or get hurt again and kill his trade value.

This.

[Tifoso]

Woooooooooohaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaa

[bcom33]

I'm sure it's really obvious, but you lost me

Extra wild card team, 1 game playoff to get in, etc.

[Tifoso]

Extra wild card team, 1 game playoff to get in, etc.

Ahh, OK. Thanks!

[GordonGecko]

The cries of Jorge Posada were heard around the world today, DOH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rui]

You'll find that to be the case with everyone given a large enough sample.

Disagree.

I think some pitchers are able to elevate their game during crunch time (Duque, Wells, Schilling, Mo).

[fredgmuggs]

I don't begrudge the guy the opportunity to do what he wants but I can't help thinking to myself - "why?"

[DiMaggio5CF]

Wasn't there a thread about a Pettitte return rumor here a few months ago that we all thought was new, and it turned out to be from like a year ago? Kind of creepy foreshadowing.

EDIT: Didn't find that thread, but I did find this one: http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread...light=Pettitte