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BREAKING NEWS: Pettitte declines option (updated)
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 1:38 am
by Jitpal
"I have spoken with Brian Cashman, who has reiterated what Hank Steinbrenner said about the Yankees wanting to give Andy all the time he needs to decide about next season,'' Pettitte's agent, Randy Hendricks, said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "Accordingly, we are declining to exercise the option for 2008 and Andy will declare free agency in order to free up a roster spot for the Yankees.
"If Andy decides to play, I am confident we can reach an agreement with the Yankees within 24 hours. The only options, as Andy has stated, are the Yankees or retirement. He appreciates the Yankees willingness to give him the time he feels he needs. I do not expect him to make a decision for quite some time.''
Link -Jitpal
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Read it elsewhere that on ESPNEWS they are saying Pettitte has declined his option. I don't have a TV handy so I can't confirm. Anyone else? -Jitpal
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 1:45 am
by cmaff051
If he is going to come back next year, it better be a one year deal. No more multi-year deals for aging pitchers like Mussina and Pettitte.
When was the deadline to decline his option, anyways?
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 1:49 am
by Jitpal
The deadline was tomorrow. Steinbrenner said he can take as much time as he needs. Pettitte is classy, he isn't trying to get a long term deal here. At most it will be another one year deal with another player option. Why would he ask for something longterm after saying it is Yankees or retirement and taking essentially a one year deal last winter.
The 24 hours thing, I think means that they will take the deal that is on the table already, so one year and $16 million so it wouldn't be a long drawn out negotiation. Pettitte will let them know probably in January if he will return or not, and if so they will just sign him. Classy guy that Pettitte. -Jitpal
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 1:54 am
by cmaff051
Let's hope he doesn't request a raise, or an additional guarenteed year. Because if that is his demands, then you just need to say goodbye.
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 1:54 am
by Pharmcat
no biggie
he needs more time, so give it to him
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 1:55 am
by Pharmcat
cmaff051 wrote:If he is going to come back next year, it better be a one year deal. No more multi-year deals for aging pitchers like Mussina and Pettitte.
When was the deadline to decline his option, anyways?
from what i understand, he only wants one year deals too so that he can assess his physical/emotional status after each season and see if he is ready for another one or not
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 2:02 am
by cmaff051
The Kandi Man Rocks wrote:no biggie
he needs more time, so give it to him
It is a biggie. Certainly he isn't going to be playing for anybody but the Yankees if he does play, but by declining this option he is pondering retiring. He's had 3 weeks to make a decision, if he felt 100% into pitching, the decision would have been made already. Instead he has declined this option so I say there is a good chance he will retire.
He better decide by the Winter Meetings. He better not leave us hanging.
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 2:09 am
by Slamm Goodbody
Off-season from hell and its barely even started... Andy better come back.
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 2:18 am
by sully00
I love Andy, he is a big game pitcher, but if there isn't going to be big games to pitch then what is the point. He isn't going to carry us to a World Series.
I think that once Mo is in the fold or out of the fold that is going to dictate what happens with Andy and Jorge. If the guy is only going to pitch one more year then sentimentality shouldn't play into what the Yankees, Mo, or Jorge do.
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 2:32 am
by TKF
Jitpal wrote:The deadline was tomorrow. Steinbrenner said he can take as much time as he needs. Pettitte is classy, he isn't trying to get a long term deal here. At most it will be another one year deal with another player option. Why would he ask for something longterm after saying it is Yankees or retirement and taking essentially a one year deal last winter.
The 24 hours thing, I think means that they will take the deal that is on the table already, so one year and $16 million so it wouldn't be a long drawn out negotiation. Pettitte will let them know probably in January if he will return or not, and if so they will just sign him. Classy guy that Pettitte. -Jitpal
yes he is. petitte is the anti A-rod.. very classy guy...
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 2:32 am
by TKF
mussina becomes even more important now, as the veteran starter on this team of young pitchers..
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 2:35 am
by cmaff051
TKF wrote:mussina becomes even more important now, as the veteran starter on this team of young pitchers..
I was just about to say the same thing... if Andy leaves, Mussina must have a good year next year or we are screwed...
If Andy leaves, Igawa will be in the equation next year too....
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 4:03 am
by VinnyTheMick
Andy will be back. I'm confident.
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 4:06 am
by cmaff051
VinnyTheMick wrote:Andy will be back. I'm confident.
I remember people saying the same thing about Arod. I wish people would say these things based on analyzing the situation (aka: he just had three weeks to make a decision and he didn't) instead of relying on a gut feel. People were confident that Arod was going to stay and take an extension but I knew all along by analyzing the situation that Arod was going to opt out.
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 4:15 am
by gooGD
cmaff051 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
I remember people saying the same thing about Arod. I wish people would say these things based on analyzing the situation (aka: he just had three weeks to make a decision and he didn't) instead of relying on a gut feel. People were confident that Arod was going to stay and take an extension but I knew all along by analyzing the situation that Arod was going to opt out.
you know,
I was going to make a thread about this after Arod officially opted out and Torre was going to the Dodgers..
Those two events might haunt the Yankees if it hurt them in signing or keeping their contract year players. If Pettite retires or EVEN goes to another team (I understand that this would mean he would renege his words) and maybe even goes back to the NL (stros/dodgers) this would definitely hurt the yankees.
If that were to happen, losing Joe makes it that much harder for next year. Are the Yankees willing or ready to commit to A) an aged Mussina coming off a BAD year B) the ups and downs for Hughes in his rookie year? C) Uncertainty of Joba? D) IGAWA???!!!!!
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 4:23 am
by VinnyTheMick
cmaff051 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
I remember people saying the same thing about Arod. I wish people would say these things based on analyzing the situation (aka: he just had three weeks to make a decision and he didn't) instead of relying on a gut feel. People were confident that Arod was going to stay and take an extension but I knew all along by analyzing the situation that Arod was going to opt out.
The Yankees front office fully expected Pettitte to decline the option because Andy needs more than 3 weeks to decide this. Do you remember how long it took him to sign with us last year? Thats how Andy is.
Pettitte ain't Arod.
Andy Pettitte's decision to decline his player option for 2008 is just a formality. I have no doubt that Big Game Andy is coming back.
If anything, Andy did the Yanks a favor. Right now they can use the roster space as the GMs converge on Orlando. Don
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 4:28 am
by gooGD
VinnyTheMick wrote:The Yankees front office fully expected Pettitte to decline the option because Andy needs more than 3 weeks to decide this. Do you remember how long it took him to sign with us last year? Thats how Andy is.
Pettitte ain't Arod.
the FEAR lies in the possibility that Pettite comes back to the Yankees and wants a 2 year deal. Given the moves of the new FO, that might not bode well for Andy coming back if the FO is inflexable. This gives Andy an out if he goes to another team..
"they didnt want to give me another year"
"they didnt want to negotiate"
JOE Torre all over again?
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 4:32 am
by cmaff051
He signed on December 6th last year, which was right around the Winter Meetings. Which is standard fare for most free agents.
Sure, Pettitte may be back. I'd put it at 50/50. But to not consider the possibility is foolish. He negotiated in his original contract back in December of last year that this Wednesday would be his deadline. He was fully aware that he had a deadline to meet in order to get his option picked up. In fact, after we were eliminated, I wouldn't doubt that the option was the first thing he thought about. After 3 weeks, he couldn't make a decision, and that to me hints that him being a Yankee isn't as much of a slam dunk as you think it is.
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 4:33 am
by VinnyTheMick
gooGD wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
the FEAR lies in the possibility that Pettite comes back to the Yankees and wants a 2 year deal. Given the moves of the new FO, that might not bode well for Andy coming back if the FO is inflexable. This gives Andy an out if he goes to another team..
"they didnt want to give me another year"
"they didnt want to negotiate"
JOE Torre all over again?
I don't think you can compare the two situations. Replacing a manager is much easier than replacing a big game pitcher.
George has wanted Joe Torre gone for some time.
The Yankees have wanted Andy back since he signed with Houston.
I have no doubts that if Andy wants another year, he will get it. If we overpay for Mo & Po, how can we not give Andy another year? The front office realizes that Andy was the only big game pitcher we had last year & was relatively injury free last season. Why wouldn't they want him back?
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 4:33 am
by Pharmcat
gooGD wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
the FEAR lies in the possibility that Pettite comes back to the Yankees and wants a 2 year deal. Given the moves of the new FO, that might not bode well for Andy coming back if the FO is inflexable. This gives Andy an out if he goes to another team..
"they didnt want to give me another year"
"they didnt want to negotiate"
JOE Torre all over again?
i dont think Andy wants a multi yr deal....he'll come back for one year