The Yankees announced Monday that they’ve hired Andy Pettitte as a special advisor to general manager Brian Cashman.
As is often the case with such appointments, Pettitte’s responsibilities are somewhat nebulous. The long-time MLB lefty will “help coach both the physical and mental side of being a champion and pitching in New York,” Cashman told reporters today (including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch).
It seems the initial plan is for Pettitte to ease into things with the Yankees organization while remaining a resident of Texas. His new role will not interfere with his duties as the pitching coach for a Houston-area high school, where he works alongside head coach Lance Berkman — making for rather a star-studded staff.
Pettitte says he passed up a chance to join former Yanks teammate Jorge Posada as a special assistant with Derek Jeter’s Marlins. Posada recently signed on in Miami, where he resides. While that offer held its own appeal, Pettitte says his arrangement with the Yankees “has been in the works for five years” — ever since he wrapped up his 18-year MLB career after the 2013 season.
joshua.barron1
Putting the money they saved on the Hicks extension earlier today to good use… AYO!
aj_54
AYO! they didn’t “save” money on Hicks. they just said him what he was worth. he’s not more than a 10 mil player
padam
His offensive numbers were better than 10M per, and he’s not bad on the field, either.
Begamin
He makes less than Mark Trumbo (not to mention way less than Dexter Fowler and Jason Heyward) and put up a 4.7 WAR in 2018 and a 3.9 WAR in 2017. $10MM is a steal for that production.
i dont know why people think this is an expensive contract?
morgannyy 2
I think those 3 are so overpaid that they are examples of bad contracts, the ones that the front offices are staying away from. Hicks took the money he was comfortable with as well.
Begamin
Sure, but lets not pretend $10MM a year is expensive in todays OF climate when Cespedes is set to make $29MM
KnicksFanCavsFan
Look up and see all the players he was better than in 2018. if he replicates that in the years to come then he will be a huge bargain. that’s not an arguement you can fight. time will tell.
Phanatic 2022
His WAR value was over 30 last year
todd76
I guess Pettitte is going to show guys how to be a champion like the Yankees were….9 years ago….
pasha2k
I wonder if he will educate the pitchers how to use PED n not hafta pay the price like Clemens has been.
Xavier Blaine
Same with Ortiz! People seem to forget that he took PEDs, yet make such a big deal over Bonds doing it. Such a joke, as a Dodgers fan I am thankful for being able to witness the greats of my time like Piazza, Bonds, Clemens, and also shamed that 2/3 of that trio is being excluded from the hall while we will likely see Ortiz make it in.
Bocephus
Funny how so many Ortiz apologists will go down fighting about that one. Ortiz himself feels everyone should be so blind.
pasha2k
They never proved anything about Ortiz!
Bocephus
He tested positive for a banned substance and was in the Mitchell report.
jmi1950
Ortiz was NOT in the Mitchell report. A New York newspaper reported that they had inside info that Ortiz was one of hundreds of players who tested positive for something during the time that MLB did secret tests — that were suppose to be nameless — to establish that a drug policy was needed. Positive tests included many drugs that were NOT PEDs.
What is truly relevant is that none of the other players were named nor did anyone else even pretend to substantiate this claim. Of course anyone who did would have been guilty of a felony because the results were subject to a gag order by a federal judge.
And please don’t cite secondary sources, go back and read the actual Mitchell report. you won’t find Ortiz’s name.
thegreatcerealfamine
Like he said “Ortiz apologist”, go back and don’t misremember…
jmi1950
You need to go back and read the Mitchell Report.
For those too lazy to read the report MLB went through the report and indexed the players named:
mlb.mlb.com/news/mitchell/players.jsp
No mention of Ortiz.
Solar Flare
He wasn’t in the Mitchell Report because George Mitchell has ties to the Red Sox, the only reason why Manny Ramirez isn’t in it either.
Oxford Karma
Pettitte admitted his wrongdoing and asked for forgiveness. Humility is endearing. Clemens was arrogant and admitted nothing, even though the evidence is pretty obvious. Its like Pete Rose. He admits after 20-25 years and no one cares anymore.
HalosHeavenJJ
True, Pettitte has acted completely differently than Ortiz (laughable denial), Clemens (arrogant denial), and Bonds (criminal denial).
weather
Halos nailed it.
Polish Hammer
Ah yeah, the old apology when you’re dead to rights and claimed to have used it just that one time and to rehab an injury….suuuurrrrre….almost as good as Giambi’s “manning up” and apologizing for doing that…doing what? “Oh come on man you know”…LOL!
mikeyank55
Hey Oxford-How about Manny?
petrie000
Actually the way it went down was Pettitte admitted guilt and there was barely any reaction, while Clemens has denied using and the only source that says he did was found uncredible by a jury and yet everyone is treating Clemens as a pariah because he got accused (with no actual evidence, just the word of one person).
I’m not a Yankees or Clemens fan, but just as a thinking human being the double standard there is just weird.
andrewgauldin
I’m surprised Jeter didn’t hire Pettitte
andrewgauldin
Now as I read the article, I’m fully educated on why he didn’t.
xXabial
ditto
bravesfan
Psh. Think my internet based armchair gm experience qualifies me as a special advisor
petrie000
All your missing from your resume is name recognition
Erik
Who cares
clepto
Funny, I was thinking same thing about your opinion too.
Strike Four
No, Erik is right, this content is not a MLB trade rumor and has literally nothing to do with the offseason. No one cares outside of Yankee fans and every MLB team has these roles, only MLBTR does not cover them. Jeff and Steve need to chill out on reporting these kinds of stories. Go to one of the hundreds of Yankee sites if you care about this story.
Jeff Todd
Whether or not we should cover such stories is debatable, I suppose. But we don’t just cover the Yankees. We’ve done posts in the recent past on Kirk Gibson (Tigers), Justin Morneau (and other former Twins), Greg Maddux/Raul Ibanez (Dodgers).
Cat Mando
Those stories don’t fit his narrative so they don’t count.
batty
@Cat Exactly.
Melchez
Yankee fans care… that;’s all it takes to make MLBTR. Notice all the articles about Tulo, Sanchez, Voit, Andujar (runner up to the Rookie of the Year), even Greg Bird. I mean what other teams AAAA 1B gets articles written about them? Contract extensions for Hicks and Severino get top billing. Other teams extending their players… hardly mentioned. And remember the Sonny Gray drama? Now that he’s a Red… no one cares any more.
Strike Four
Ok, I missed those, I just searched for Rickey Henderson and found nothing ha
Polish Hammer
Come on Jeff didn’t you know there’s two or three teams that all of baseball must honor as if it’s their own? Just look at the retirement tour coming for CC this year, if he stayed in Cleveland his whole career he’d get a send off in his own park and that’s it but as a Yankee everyone must step up and honor him.
Bocephus
He has such a narrow narrative. Quick now say “narrow narrative” ten times fast.
toomuchpie
Yet you’re always here commenting on these stories.
johnwhitney2000
This site is incredible. Don’t let a few harsh critics bring you down. I love the massive amount of detail you provide for every team.
Melchez
For every team… lol
Weighed
Marlins hire Jorge Posada
Yankees hire Andy Pettitte
Marlins hire Mo Rivera
Yankees hire Paul O’neill
Marline hire Chuck Knoblauch
Yankees hire Ricky Ledee
Marlins hire Graeme Lloyd
Yankees hire David Justice
rcxyautos
I agree 100%.
Strike Four
and no one cares other than Yankee fans. This site is called MLB trade rumors, who gives a F about the Yankees giving out fake jobs to bored retirees.
Cat Mando
For someone who claims to not care about this story you sure are posting on it a lot.
Strike Four
I’m posting in conversation with other posters who are asking questions about it?
But thanks for monitoring my posts–DAD.
Bocephus
Now go to bed child…
Cat Mando
“But thanks for monitoring my posts”…..awwwww, did I touch a nerve little boy?For years and years this site has covered many things baseball, not just rumors. If you could see the world beyond the limits of your own overblown ego you would know that.
BTW…no one has to monitor your posts to be aware of the constant blather you utter on a regular basis. Grow up and realize that the world exists despite you, not because of you.
Dankgesang
(Whispers) the trade rumors are actually just an excuse to get lonely, brain dead morons to argue with each other for the entertainment of other lonely, brain dead morons. Along those lines anything vaguely mlb related will do, and anyway don’t complain; it’s easier than having a real life.
Cam
That’s your fourth strike – you need to leave.
Strike Four
You can go jump in a lake.
tigersfan1320
You realize they have posted about nearly every hiring of former players for every team. As Jeff already said but I guess you don’t pay attention to anyone but yourself
andrewgauldin
Hopefully the fish can hire Aaron Judge to play right field one day.
Polish Hammer
Chuck could teach them that throw from second while Justice can show them all how to screw up a relationship with one of the hottest women on earth…
SFGiantsGallore
LOL
Texassooner
Berkman and Pettitte are coaches at 2nd Baptist Christian High School in Houston. Their team won the state title last year. Pettitte’s son is a pitcher in the team.
rcxyautos
Point taken. azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2018/03/13/…
Strike Four
See, these stories don’t matter to anyone but Yankees fans. The “job” is literally “just hang out” – I really do not believe this content belongs on MLBTR.
You don’t cover how every other team has a HOFer doing this exact same kind of stuff – Rickey Henderson does this with Oakland almost every year but you don’t cover it.
Look, it’s not player-related and its not a rumor, so please don’t cover this stuff in future, thanks.
sidewinder11
Except that they do cover those things. They posted an article when Posada was hired by the Marlins and they’ve posted about multiple others in the past before. As a DBacks fan, I specifically remember them posting about JJ Putz, Randy Johnson and Luis Gonzalez when they took on front office roles in AZ
The Morning After Pillar
Actually last month they noted that David Wright joined the Mets staff as a special assistant.
Unfortunately you may have mis-remembered their article on that
Strike Four
Please post a link or dont call out someone.
IF they are going to post these cruddy fake news stories, they belong on one aggregator post as a point, but I’ve made my point: this stuff does not fall under what this site is about and its up to Jeff and Todd to respect the site or just post fake news all day. I’m fine with either, but change the name of the site if this content is going to be the norm.
Kslaw
If it bothers you that much then you are welcome to leave.
Begamin
How is it fake news? The Yankees really did hire Pettite. They didnt lie about it.
Anyway, you sound like a whiney brat. Do your own googling to find the articles people are referencing. People dont have to do all the work for you for those articles to exist, you know.
Jeff Todd
Fake news? Okay.
Some of our readers like being updated on former players. On occasion these kinds of connections end up being notable. Some of these guys end up taking on significant front office, player development, or coaching roles.
So, we think it’s reasonably within the realm of our coverage, though these sorts of stories will never be a priority. If you count a few scattered times throughout the year as “the norm,” and it is too much trouble to ignore these particular posts, then I suggest you raise your concerns with the site’s content and/or name with its owner. We’ll do whatever he believes to be prudent.
– Jeff and Todd
Kslaw
Love the signature. Glad you used it against him. on a sife note, can we start calling that? I kind of like it.
Melchez
Former yankee players.
Cat Mando
Strike Four……”Please post a link or dont call out someone.”
mlbtraderumors.com/david-wright
Dynasty
Don’t even give the troll the attention he desperately wants.
jimbenwal
So if it’s called trade rumors this site should only be about rumored trades? Don’t tell us about actual trades. Never mention a FA. Nothing about any baseball GM signings or suspensions. You say he posts fake news yet that what a rumor is right? Just because you dislike the Yankees doesn’t mean you have to be mad at the world. Take a deep breath, turn off your computer, and go outside and play. The fresh air will do you good.
Solar Flare
Have you considered that we can call you out for your BS without caring about you?
YankeesBleacherCreature
Have you considered stepping away from the internet for a day or two? It may do you some good.
Strike Four
Have you considered not caring about me?
Begamin
Who even considered caring about you in the first place?
Kslaw
We dont care about you. We care about the comment section being run down by people like you. Please do not confuse the two.
sethesq
stfu ffs
Eta34
Perhaps you could start your own MLB trade rumors website. As the owner of said website, you could dictate what content you deem relevant and appropriate to publish. Until then, or until you purchase a controlling interest in the website, enjoy what is posted (for free) or simply go elsewhere. Pretty simple.
HalosHeavenJJ
Just hope he doesn’t misremember anything in his new job.
canocorn
>> “While Pettitte’s job is nebulous, …”
So was Carl Sagan’s job, in a sense.
Dankgesang
(Whispers) the trade rumors are actually just an excuse to get lonely, brain dead morons to argue with each other for the entertainment of other lonely, brain dead morons. Along those lines anything vaguely mlb related will do, and anyway don’t complain; it’s easier than having a real life.
bravos4evr
I am outraged, OUTRAGED, that a team I don’t root for is being covered by a hot stove website for doing off-season stuff!( am I doing this right?)
Melchez
Speaking of fake news… we haven’t heard much from Jim Bowden. Has anyone talked to him about his sources for kimbrel sitting out 2019? Bowden puts the rumor in mlbtr.
bobtillman
When your revenues are about 600M, and you only contribute 32% or so to payroll, you have to do something with the leftover money. Why not take care of some of the old crowd?,. You can deduct it from Revenue Sharing responsibility, and from your bill to Uncle Sam.
Steinbrenner did it for years….out of the goodness of his heart….YEAH!!!!
In days of old, the ex-players needed the money. Nowadays? It’s just a way to wash profits. THAT’S why FO expenses have increased so much over the years.
Bob Nutting just said that he took his 50M bonanza from the sale of MLBAM and “invested it in scouting”. Ya, he hired 100 more scouts and pays them $500,000 apiece. Sure he did.
Vizionaire
so he can teach how to stay dominat using “only once”!
Larry Leonardo
Rothschild may retire in the next few years. Maybe Andy will take his spot down the line. A class act.
BrewersMVP08
“y’all get stressed, I got a guy with a syringe that can help”
Coach Bombay
I don’t care what anyone says (even Andy himself) he never used PED’s.
Or was that Palmeiro… hmmm
throwinched10
Special Assistant just means Friend. The meetings are held at their house with beers and burgers.
SargentDownvote
I don’t think Cashman does burgers and beers. He’s more of an alkaline water and vegan sushi type of guy.
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
I sincerely hope some high school kids in Houston realize how fortunate they are getting coaching from Andy Pettitte and Lance Berkman! Talk about being given every chance to succeed!!
Yankeepatriot
I want pettite to work with Montgomery so badly
Bobby S
What exactly do special assistants do? Show up at Spring Training for couple days and throw BP it sounds like. Nice gig
jmi1950
Retirees want to see their past heros. Former players put butts in the seats.