A year after retiring, Andy Pettitte is back in pinstripes. The Yankees announced that they signed the 39-year-old left-hander to a minor league contract. Pettitte, a Hendricks Sports client, can potentially earn $2.5MM on the deal, which doesn't include incentives.
Pettitte announced his retirement from baseball after the 2010 season and did not play at all in 2011. He got the itch to return while with the team as a guest instructor earlier this month, ESPN's Buster Olney reports (on Twitter). The Yankees have left the door open for a return since Pettitte retired, so they were able to work a deal out once he decided to return.
It's unlikely that Pettitte will be able to start the season with the team. Joel Sherman of the New York Post says (on Twitter) that he will use the rest of Spring Training to get in shape, then rejoin the club. The Yankees currently have CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda, Hiroki Kuroda, Phil Hughes, Freddy Garcia, and Ivan Nova for five rotation spots, so Pettitte makes seven starters for five spots.
Photo courtesy Icon SMI. Jack Curry of The YES Network first reported the deal. Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post.
Que?
My thoughts exactly.
When I saw it on ESPN, I thought they were doing like a “this day 4 years ago segment” but no it is for real.
ron guidry is next
Wha..?!
am i really seeing this
Is today April Fool’s Day? Am I dreaming?
I had to check the date too. Could be a good thing. The warm place in my heart that’s reserved for Andy is happy but, as with so many other things involving the Yanks, I’ll reserve my enthusiasm for when reality strikes (no pun intended).
Did NOT see this one coming at all.
wait, what?
Are ya sure it is not some other guy who happens to have the name Andy Pettitte?
Yes. He’s 46 and used to be called “Freddy Garcia”. Stupid birth certificates.
That’s what I was thinking. I had to count the t’s to make sure he’s the real Andy Pettitte
Maybe it’s Fausto Carmona posing as Andy Pettite.
IS this true !?!? YES!!!!!!
YES! (no TV pun intended)
Is this an early April Fools joke?
Holy crap, what happened to retirement Andy?
Eh … that wife … those kids … that barking dog. Retirement sucks …
It’s not April 1, is it?
Big pickup for the Yankees if Pettitte can pull it together for one more run.
Exactly…either can’t afford them or doesn’t want to be around them.
What?
I know, I know, the new rules say you’re not supposed to ask “is this a joke?”…but seriously…I actually want to know.
Wow, did someone get hurt. Guess Hughes never gonna start again lol
Yankees are loaded for 2012.
Maybe Pineda is really staring in the minors
could work
Theres no way Pettitte starts the year in the Yanks rotation…he won’t be ready as they’re probably put him in extended spring training and maybe even in Triple-A later on to see if his stuff is back.
Wha–what WHAT?
miiiiiiiight wanna consider editing that one
This isn’t offensive at all…
yeah, I guess not but hey, everything is offensive to somebody on the internet right?
Did you seriously just flag that?
Nope, that wasn’t me
Nevermind.
What was said?
I said there was a typo and wondered how the Yankees kept this so quiet.
What is wrong with that? Were choice words used?
I said there was a typo and wondered how the Yankees kept this so quiet.
“Roger Clemens!!!!!!! Is in George’s… Wait what? Andy Pettitte? Damn…”- Suzyn Waldman
I seriously thought I accidentally loaded the 2005 Mlbtraderumors feed. If there was one at the time. erm.
What?!? Is this a joke??
Did the liner knock Freddy’s hand off or something?
So… LOOGY acquired?
I thought he was signed to be the new coach of the KNICKS
He’s the new Brett Favre… not Oswalt.
This just in – Andy Pettite has changed his name to Andy Cuarenta y Seis
don’t you mean cuatroseis
omg??
Does he have any gas left in his tank?
HJ
Better question … does he even have a gas tank ?
Nope, he works on steam power
Even better question … Can the Yankees afford gas at $5 a gallon? I can’t.
If anyone can, it’s the Yankees.
His wife and kids must be driving him nuts………..
His wife and kids must be driving him nuts……..
You can say that again…
Not wanting to be upstaged by their crosstown rivals, the Mets have reportedly convinced Al Leiter to unretire.
Leiter might have something left in the tank….Knowing the Mets it would be Steve Trachsel.
Better off bringing Bobby Bo back, after all, he’s probably making just as much as Pettitte is right now lol
yep, he’s penciled in to be the ace of our staff too!
We’re one step ahead, remember David Cone in 2003?
stem cells
How long before we see “Red Sox Sign Pedro Martinez?”
What is Luis Tiant up to these day?
Oil Can Boyd!
He never did make that comeback. I was looking forward to that.
I did not see this coming, but this is a great thing for Yankees baseball! So excited to see Andy P. back in Pinstripes!
Now they are poised to win the 2000 World Series.
Not for anything, but Pettitte two years ago shut down Texas in the ALCS. Granted he lost 2-0, but that was only because Cliff Lee had a 13K shutout.
Petites last good year was his last year
In 2010.
So a whole year off big deal.
one and a 1/3. but who’s counting.
That extra 4 months is a real killer
At 25 maybe not. At 39 ehhhhh….
That extra 4 months is a real killer
one and a 1/3. but who’s counting.
Look what happened to Bartolo. And he was an ineffective pitcher when he left.
And how often does that happen?
I don’t know, how often does a pitcher in his late 30’s/early 40’s retire for a whole year and then come back?
And as peopel said in case you don’t know, his last season he was very good. Sure it came a year and a half ago but that doesn’t mean he still cant pitch good ball games.
Besides, I’m sure you would take him in the Sox rotation over some of the back end possibilities anyway.
Join the team? I’m so confused. I literally have no explanation for this. Even if somehow Nova and all of his success was held in the minors for no reason, Hughes and Freddy filled out the bullpen, you still have three mlb ready minor leaguers….Why does this make any sense?
Nova may have nothing to work on in the minors but pineda might if they want him to perfect the change, hughes could also be put there to work on the curve i guess.but this changes nothing for at least a month.
ticket sales
They’re gonna draw 3.5 million instead of 3.5 million?
I guess he doesn’t have to worry about the Clemens’ trial…
What year is it?
Brett Favrin it I see “the itch is there”
Does this have anything to do with the Clemens re-trial? It looked all but certain that he would have to testify against The Rocket, now since it was his wife’s testimony that caused the mis-trail, and the retrial date has been set for 4/16, maybe the lawyers agreed in discovery to exclude everything and anything related to “The Little Buddy” and move on with the trial?
And now POOF!!! Heeeeeeeeere’s ANDY!!!
You very well may be on to something there.
Combine that with the fact that Pettitte made a quick exit from baseball when Clemens was first indicted. A lot of smoke here, probably some fire somwhere too.
Combine that with the fact that Pettitte made a quick exit from baseball when Clemens was first indicted. A lot of smoke here, probably some fire somwhere too.
not for nothing , but didnt Andy talk Posada into retirement? I dunno, I can’t make sense of this
Posada must feel really lonely now.
No, he’s got Bernie and Tino and Paulie lol
No, he’s got Bernie and Tino and Paulie lol
is this a early april fools joke?
Does this mean Mo pushes back his retirement announcement?
Does this mean Mo pushes back his retirement announcement?
Typo alert!
Wonder how the Yankees kept this quiet for so long.
Typo alert!
Wonder how the Yankees kept this quiet for so long.
This is Awesome! Glad to see he’s coming back.
I agree.
Maybe he’s using steroids again…since you know that’s okay.
Let us move on.
LOL Jack Curry just wrote this on Twitter:
When Pettitte heard Cashman talk about Pettitte on the Michael Kay Show, he told Cashman that got “his juices flowing.”
He’s likely to make the rotation unless he is terrible which I don’t see him being terrible. That being the case… who do Yankee fans see getting bumped from the rotation?
And do you think it might be Pineda based on the fact that if you keep him in AAA you can get one more year of control.
I would bump Garcia. I would have Garcia as a long RP. That is if everyone pitches well.
Cool. Very cool.
He would be Boston’s #3 starter lol
I don’t know about #3, but probably #4
he would have been their number 1 in september last year.
he would have been their number 1 in september last year.
Welcome back Andy! Glad you are back one more year.
Nevermind.
He’s broke and needs the money. Move along.
andy its back !!
I wonder how’s the rotation ganna look like when Andy reaches the majors
If he can’t beat out Hughes and Garcia he stinks. Hughes is nothing but a big BUST and Garcia’s fastball is 80 mph.
I wonder why all the non Yankees fans feel the urge to make “cutesy” remarks about a guy that’s won 240 games or so coming back after one year. Players come back from injuries that have been out a year. As a long time yankees fan, I think it’s a great idea, and wish hin all the sucess.
I’m not a Yankee fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I always liked Pettitte. Seems like a classy guy.
I wonder why all the non Yankees fans feel the urge to make “cutesy” remarks about a guy that’s won 240 games or so coming back after one year. Players come back from injuries that have been out a year. As a long time yankees fan, I think it’s a great idea, and wish hin all the sucess.
My prayers have been answered!
Mine as well.
Mine as well.
Mariano Rivera please take note. Playing MLB and making millions is more fun that staying home with the kids.
Posada might want to start taking some pratice swings based on how Ibanez has looked this spring.
I’m so happy I could scream for joy. Last year when he “retired” I was so sad that I never wanted to watch another game. Boy oh Boy–just look at me now !! I just bought my subscription !!
I guess it takes over a year to flush one’s system of performance enhancing drugs
Hello Everyone! I too am very happy. Let’s all remember that Nolan Ryan went 12-6 when he was 44.Early Wynn went 22-10 when he was 39 and 8-2 when he was 41. Now don’t mean to insult anyone but does anyone think that Andy would come within 100 mile from a performance enhanching substance?Greg Maddux went 14-11 when he was 41. So don’t sell Andy short!
Will Derek Lowe challenge for the Cy Young this season too?
Omg Andy pettite was not seeing this coming thank the lord
…what?
49 year old pitcher? It seems kinda risky, but I really want a comeback. I think he will do fine…for his age.
incredible go yankees!!
My rotation – Sabathia (LHP), Nova (RHP), Pettitte (LHP)
My closer – Rivera (RHP)
My bullpen – Soriano (RHP), Robertson (RHP), Wade (RHP)
My tryouts – All others
Note – Pettitte is in the rotation as soon as ready, but not on Opening Day. Whomever won the spring tryout would be my temporary.