Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina

by jscape2000 on Jan 6, 2009 11:23 PM EST in Analysis Comment 10 comments

Two years ago, Mike Mussina signed a two-year deal for $11 million per year for the simple reason that he refused to play for less than Carl Pavano earned for not playing.

This year, Andy Pettitte can't really make a similar argument. The pitchers who figure to make more than he figures to recorded 230+ Ks last season.

And to add insult to (shoulder) injury, the Yankees are calling his bluff on those rumors of a multi-year deal.

According to Joel Sherman:

The organization is now strongly inclined to lower the $10 million offer that the lefty already has been resistant to all offseason...

The Yanks have felt justified to cut the salary because Pettitte struggled last year (14-14, 4.54 ERA), had shoulder issues, will turn 37 next season and - in general - salaries are coming in far lower than anticipated in the current economic climate.

I know Teixeira was introduced today.

I know the Yankees signed a former ROY (sic) to fight Cory Ransom for the utility infielder job, an outfielder to fight for a spot as break-glass-in-emergency bat, and a pitcher to fight for the spot of last-guy-before-Igawa III. But Andy Pettitte, especially the Yankees treatment of Andy Pettitte, will be the big news in my corner of the YankeeUniverse for a while.

You can argue Andy was overpaid last season (I agree). You can moralize that Andy should, at least, been upfront with the front office about his PED connections even though there had been stories for years previously (I alternate between moral outrage and apathetic resignation). You can wax nostalgic over championships (I surely do).

But this makes twice that the Yankees have disregarded Andy Pettitte. I hope it's not twice we're burned by it.

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Confused...

how have they been burned? he didn’t exactly light it up when he went to Houston, and in fact was oft-injured. Hindsight leads me to believe there were those in the Yanks organization that may have seen that coming…

And I certainly don’t think they are disregarding him in this case. $10M was more than fair in my opinion.

The Jayfiss Report ...one fan's rants

by NumberSeven on Jan 7, 2009 10:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Negotiating from a 'Take it or leave it' position

works for you if you hold all the cards. But seldom leads to a smiles all around feeling of a deal agreed to like a little give and take might.

Like it or not people like to be dealt with.

And we can be burned by it if we have an injury or two and have to watch many starts by Sidney Ponson or equivalent.

If I's known I was going to live so long, I'd have taken better care of myself. Casey

by Cbeck3 on Jan 7, 2009 11:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sizzle and burn ...

The fear that Andy might somehow “burn” us is a non-issue in my opinion. In the world of professional sports especially where injuries are just a breath away, even the best deals sometimes go awry. I wasn’t the least bit annoyed by the Yankees tactics with Andy. In fact, I applaud them. They gave him an above market-value offer that he denied. It’s really as simple as that. It’s life in America—take it or leave it. Frankly, I’m glad Andy left it. We need youth infused in the rotation, and Hughes may well be the answer.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Jan 7, 2009 12:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We viewed Andy as replaceable

and Kevin Brown and Javy Vasquez weren’t half of what the Yankees needed.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Jan 7, 2009 10:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Andy can go now...

I don’t see how anyone could say Andy was “disrespected”. $10M for a pitcher at his age is a very good deal. The Yankees came with a great offer right off the bat. They did not low ball him or jerk him around. They said, “We want you back, here is a more money than you probably deserve”. Hell, Cashman even went down there to see him face to face. $10M a year will bring in an Oliver Perez who, despite the walks, I would prefer to Pettitte. The only thing Pettitte brings is leadership and the Yankees have that in spades.

Fire Torre! Paul O'Neill for manager!

by tiyuri on Jan 7, 2009 4:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

You need a new tag line.

Can I suggest, “Fire Girardi, bring back Torre!”

If I's known I was going to live so long, I'd have taken better care of myself. Casey

by Cbeck3 on Jan 7, 2009 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The thing that Pettitte brings is a one-year deal

Which allows us to build up Hughes’ innings in the minors (and spot starts in relief of Joba) so he can take that rotation spot next year and pitch more of the season. Perez would likely require a multi-year deal, and he’s never pitched 200 innings. The closest he’s come is 2008 and 2004 (196 and 194, respectively). If we’re going to get a FA, it’s gotta be someone we can pretty well bet will pitch an entire season of quality starts, not someone as inconsistent and almost mediocre as Perez, and it’s gotta be on a one- or two-year deal so we can make room for at least one of the multitude of pitchers we’re developing. If we want to gamble, we’ll gamble with a pitcher we’ll end up getting better stuff out of for more years and less money, like Hughes, Kennedy, Coke, or Aceves.

"If you lived in my grandfather's house...and you wanted to eat, you had to be a Yankees fan." --Joe Biden

by SenorSwanky on Jan 7, 2009 5:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Perez

dont want any part of Oli no way no how. walked over 100 guys last yr in less than 200 innings. take out his incredible july, and his ERA for the season was 4.87, in the NL!!

"Hey Derek do you actually drive the Edge?","I don't drive that piece of crap!"

by Da Shiz on Jan 7, 2009 8:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Off topic but

If I were Hal I would think about low -balling Boras for Manny. I was completely against Manny from the start but now I fell If he could be had for 2/ $16 Mill per year. If Andy is gone, added to the player we will have to move. I think payroll would be still what they expected it to be around plus the lineup would be unrelenting.

Cano is a Pimp

by yankeechaser on Jan 7, 2009 7:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs