WHY WE NEED PETTITTE

A lot of talk about Lee, Jeter and free agents but not enough talk about Andy Pettitte. Look, since 2006, it's been a year by year thing with Andy. You have to respect that. He's having an inner struggle between family and his second family. Can he still pitch? Hell yes. Does he want to? Of course. Will he? That's the million dollar question. Time will tell, but I believe in my heart Andy gives it one more year. He was 11-3 last season and he was hurt and still gave us amazing pitching in the post season. He was a stud in The 2009 post season and that's still fresh in his mind. So, How do you walk away from that?







How about this; If they sign Lee, is Pettitte more inclined to pitch one for year? Does that help cement the deal for Andy to come back? I think it really helps him make his decision. Wow, It could be a Lee, CC, Pettitte, AJ, Hughes rotation. I'll put my money on that.

Andy is still a great pitcher, he knows that, the Yankees know that. It's in Andys court. Once he decides, " Yes, I'm coming back", it is just a matter of working out a number, hammering out a contract. Done deal. If he decides to hang it up, well, then the Yankees have a significant hole in the rotation. I actually think signing a Lee or at least showing Andy that they have every intention of signing Lee helps Pettitte's chances of coming back. Am I wrong? I'm not sure yet. Pettitte had said he didn't want it to drag on and he wanted to make a decision. The question is, when. Plus, Pettitte always says that. The Yankees LoHud Blog had a breakdown of Andys moves after each season going back to 2006. Here it is, check it out:

• After the 2006 season: Pettitte signs a one-year, $16 million deal with a player option for a second year on Dec. 9, spurning the Astros who had hoped to bring him back.
  
• After the 2007 season: After declining his option on Nov. 5, Pettitte accepts arbitration from the Yankees on Dec. 7 and officially signs on Dec. 12.
  
• After the 2008 season: Some backs-and-forths over money push the ultimate decision later this time around, with Pettitte not signing his incentive-laden deal until Jan. 26.
  
• After the 2009 season: Back to the usual, Pettitte followed up his fantastic postseason by filing for free agency and then signing a one-year deal with the Yankees on Dec. 9.
  

Bottom line, Andy needs to come back. He will be welcomed back with opened arms and can still win us 15 games. Not bad for a 3rd pitcher in the rotation. If he doesn't come back, it could mean Armogeddon. Yanks need to think fast and scramble. Will they go farm help? How about a free agent like Arroyo or Garland? A trade perhaps? Something solid but inexpensive would need to happen. No one wants that as Yankee fans. No. As Yankees fans, we want Andy back. That's the Yankee Way.

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