Redding isn't a lock to be in the rotation. That would leave 2 open spots up for grabs after Pettitte, Miller, and Oswalt. Definite starters: Pettitte Oswalt Miller Two from among: Robertson Hernandez Redding Duckworth
LOL, man with the fire power the Yankees have, you can have 5 mediocre pitchers and still have a good shot at the playoffs. That line up right there, while not as good as it was in the past, is still a damn good pitching lineup. I guess anything besides a world series win is a bad season for them, sigh. And here, being stros fan, just hoping the team would get out of the first round (or even in it).
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/2286808 Astros expect major offer from Yankees By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle Barring a tremendous recovery by Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, the Astros will complete their deal to lure veteran lefthander Andy Pettitte to pitch close to his Deer Park home today. Either way, Astros owner Drayton McLane anticipates the decision to be made by "mid-morning." The Astros and Pettitte's agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks, are mutually optimistic a deal can get done to land Pettitte in Houston for the next three years. McLane, who has monitored the situation closely since general manager Gerry Hunsicker stepped up the negotiations last week, wouldn't divulge the terms of his offer. But McLane admitted making an offer late Tuesday and again early Wednesday. "Our goal has never changed in 11 years, and it's to be a champion," McLane said Wednesday. "Andy Pettitte could be a tremendous step. We hope by maybe tomorrow to make progress. I've been very pleased. I have felt confident for about two weeks. "I felt it was a good opportunity. We worked on it, and Gerry has worked on it. The Hendricks brothers, Randy and Alan, I'm sure through Andy, have also worked hard on this." The Astros have made what is believed to be a three-year, $31 million offer. Steinbrenner's top baseball officials were contemplating their counteroffer late Wednesday, and people close to the situation believe the Yankees are willing to make a four-year, $52 million proposal with a potential fifth year worth another $13 million. According to several industry sources, Pettitte was close to accepting the Astros' final offer by Wednesday afternoon. He kept the door open for the Yankees, but some of Pettitte's teammates were bracing for the potential of losing one of the stalwarts of their recent championship teams. "It would be weird (to lose Pettitte)," Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter told New York reporters. "It would be awkward. You play with guys for a long time. You always think you're going to play with them, but those types of things happen." While the Yankees were in a panic, McLane and Hunsicker were optimistic Wednesday night as they left Minute Maid Park. McLane and Hunsicker even said the deal could possibly get done late Wednesday. "We're optimistic we're headed in the right direction," Hunsicker said. "It could happen tonight. It could happen tomorrow. It may not happen. ... As one great historian (former Yankees great and Astros coach Yogi Berra) said, `It ain't over 'til it's over.' " Asked to respond to the Astros' optimism, Randy Hendricks said he shared Hunsicker's belief that a deal could be reached. "I don't disagree," Hendricks said, "but no deal is done." Although McLane will extend his budget to land Pettitte, the Astros and the rest of baseball knew it would not boil down to finances if Pettitte decided to leave the Yankees. From the start, Pettitte and the Astros knew the Yankees could overwhelm any other offer. But Houston is home for Pettitte, who was born in Baton Rouge, La., and raised in Deer Park. His wife, Laura, and their three children live in Houston throughout the year. Pettitte's parents and his extended family also live here. With four World Series championship rings and 13 postseason victories, Pettitte has impressed McLane. A two-time 20-game winner, Pettitte finished 21-8 with a 4.02 ERA n 2003 to improve his career record to 149-78 with a 3.94 ERA. With Roy Oswalt and Wade Miller, Pettitte would give the Astros three pitchers with a chance to win 20 games next season. More important, the top of the Astros' rotation would compare well in the NL Central to the Cubs' Mark Prior, Kerry Wood and Carlos Zambrano. "We're optimistic," Hunsicker said, "but we're not there yet." Before leaving Minute Maid Park, Hunsicker referred to the negotiations with Pettitte as being in the "eighth inning, but we're in a rain delay." The Astros were leading comfortably before the rain delay, but they expected Steinbrenner to counter swiftly with an impressive offer. "I'd be disappointed," Hunsicker said, "if we weren't able to get anything done as far as we've gone."
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistor...opstory/2286808 Astros expect major offer from Yankees By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle Barring a tremendous recovery by Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, the Astros will complete their deal to lure veteran lefthander Andy Pettitte to pitch close to his Deer Park home today. Either way, Astros owner Drayton McLane anticipates the decision to be made by "mid-morning." The Astros and Pettitte's agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks, are mutually optimistic a deal can get done to land Pettitte in Houston for the next three years. McLane, who has monitored the situation closely since general manager Gerry Hunsicker stepped up the negotiations last week, wouldn't divulge the terms of his offer. But McLane admitted making an offer late Tuesday and again early Wednesday. "Our goal has never changed in 11 years, and it's to be a champion," McLane said Wednesday. "Andy Pettitte could be a tremendous step. We hope by maybe tomorrow to make progress. I've been very pleased. I have felt confident for about two weeks. "I felt it was a good opportunity. We worked on it, and Gerry has worked on it. The Hendricks brothers, Randy and Alan, I'm sure through Andy, have also worked hard on this." The Astros have made what is believed to be a three-year, $31 million offer. Steinbrenner's top baseball officials were contemplating their counteroffer late Wednesday, and people close to the situation believe the Yankees are willing to make a four-year, $52 million proposal with a potential fifth year worth another $13 million. According to several industry sources, Pettitte was close to accepting the Astros' final offer by Wednesday afternoon. He kept the door open for the Yankees, but some of Pettitte's teammates were bracing for the potential of losing one of the stalwarts of their recent championship teams. "It would be weird (to lose Pettitte)," Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter told New York reporters. "It would be awkward. You play with guys for a long time. You always think you're going to play with them, but those types of things happen." While the Yankees were in a panic, McLane and Hunsicker were optimistic Wednesday night as they left Minute Maid Park. McLane and Hunsicker even said the deal could possibly get done late Wednesday. "We're optimistic we're headed in the right direction," Hunsicker said. "It could happen tonight. It could happen tomorrow. It may not happen. ... As one great historian (former Yankees great and Astros coach Yogi Berra) said, `It ain't over 'til it's over.' " Asked to respond to the Astros' optimism, Randy Hendricks said he shared Hunsicker's belief that a deal could be reached. "I don't disagree," Hendricks said, "but no deal is done." Although McLane will extend his budget to land Pettitte, the Astros and the rest of baseball knew it would not boil down to finances if Pettitte decided to leave the Yankees. From the start, Pettitte and the Astros knew the Yankees could overwhelm any other offer. But Houston is home for Pettitte, who was born in Baton Rouge, La., and raised in Deer Park. His wife, Laura, and their three children live in Houston throughout the year. Pettitte's parents and his extended family also live here. With four World Series championship rings and 13 postseason victories, Pettitte has impressed McLane. A two-time 20-game winner, Pettitte finished 21-8 with a 4.02 ERA n 2003 to improve his career record to 149-78 with a 3.94 ERA. With Roy Oswalt and Wade Miller, Pettitte would give the Astros three pitchers with a chance to win 20 games next season. More important, the top of the Astros' rotation would compare well in the NL Central to the Cubs' Mark Prior, Kerry Wood and Carlos Zambrano. "We're optimistic," Hunsicker said, "but we're not there yet." Before leaving Minute Maid Park, Hunsicker referred to the negotiations with Pettitte as being in the "eighth inning, but we're in a rain delay." The Astros were leading comfortably before the rain delay, but they expected Steinbrenner to counter swiftly with an impressive offer. "I'd be disappointed," Hunsicker said, "if we weren't able to get anything done as far as we've gone."
Consider this: We'll be able to judge, by spring training, wether or not we think Taylor Buchholz,the number 5 prospect in baseball, who we got in the Wagner trade, is ready for the majors this season. He could be a fifth starter that comes out of nowhere to suprise many.
Dude, chill out. check back to the page right after yesterday's initial announcements. Someone offered to buy you drinks. So you did get props
From today's New York Daily News... As much as I'd hate to see it happen, I'd be very happy for Andy and the Astros! ------------- Astronomical Yank blunder By BILL MADDEN and ANTHONY McCARRON DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS Thursday, December 11th, 2003 While George Steinbrenner dickers with Gary Sheffield's demands, Andy Pettitte is slipping away from the Yankees. The lefty, one of the cornerstones of the recent championship run, is on the verge of signing with Houston, which could turn the Yankees' Boss-driven offseason into a disaster. Several sources familiar with the negotiations said yesterday that Pettitte and the Astros were working out the final details of a three-year, $30 million deal. That would give Pettitte the chance to pitch near his Deer Park, Tex., home. Pettitte had taken a physical a few days ago - a sign a deal is imminent - and the Astros got the clean results yesterday. Pettitte's agents gave the Yankees one last chance yesterday, sources said. Pettitte, several baseball officials said, wants much more money to stay in New York - $15 million per season plus, perhaps, an extra year. The Yankees don't want to go beyond $12 million per, which was believed to be where they were at in talks late last night with the pitcher's representatives, Alan and Randy Hendricks. Randy Hendricks said in an E-mail that nothing was settled: "I have spoken with both the Astros and Yankees and as of the time I write this, there is no deal done with either team. . . . This will play out over the next 24 to 36 hours. It will be one of these two teams." But, multiple baseball officials said, the Astros were anticipating a deal could be completed as soon as today. There were details to be worked out, one source said, but nothing that would be a deal-breaker. "Barring some blowout, last-minute effort by the Yankees, he's going to be an Astro," one baseball official said. Several Yankee executives, under a Boss-mandated gag order for most of the offseason, refused comment, though one said, "My gut feeling all along was that Andy wanted to go home." http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/144881p-127963c.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/11/sports/baseball/11YANK.html Astros' Bid for Pettitte Puts Yanks in a Bind By TYLER KEPNER Published: December 11, 2003 ll along, the Yankees have known there was one thing they could never offer Andy Pettitte: the opportunity to pitch near his home in Deer Park, Tex. The Yankees still had a chance to retain him last night, but in what would be the most stinging blow of a chaotic off-season, Pettitte may be slipping away to the Houston Astros. Advertisement A baseball official with knowledge of the discussions said the Yankees believe that Pettitte wants to stay in the Houston area and that they would need to offer a three- or four-year contract worth $15 million a season to retain him. George Steinbrenner, the team's principal owner, who has never been a strong supporter of Pettitte's, has shown no willingness to meet that price. But Steinbrenner was flying last night from New York to Tampa, Fla., and made plans to hold a conference call with top club officials. If he fears the embarrassment of losing Pettitte, Steinbrenner could raise the Yankees' offer and make Pettitte decide between the Yankees' riches and a lesser contract to play at home. "I expect to hear from the Yankees in the near future," Randy Hendricks, one of of Pettitte's agents, said in an e-mail message late last night. "There is no deal with either team at this time. I expect things to be done within 24 to 48 hours." The Yankees offered Pettitte a three-year, $30 million contract before he filed for free agency, with the promise that they would increase the offer. Pettitte's father, Tom, said on Tuesday that the Pettittes expected the Yankees to pursue him more aggressively and that the family was puzzled by the approach. The Astros, meanwhile, have used their proximity to Pettitte to their advantage, meeting him personally at Minute Maid Park early in the free-agent process. Their offer is believed to be a three-year deal for roughly $10 million a season, which would represent a pay cut for Pettitte despite his 21 victories last season, when he made $11.5 million. The Houston Chronicle reported on its Web site yesterday that Pettitte had passed a physical for the Astros, and agents and officials with other teams said they had heard Pettitte would sign with Houston. "We're optimistic that things are headed in the right direction," Astros General Manager Gerry Hunsicker told The Associated Press last night. Asked what it would be like to play without Pettitte, Derek Jeter, the Yankees' captain, said: "It would be weird. It would be awkward. You play with a certain guy a long time and you always think you're going to play with him and then these types of things happen." If Pettitte chooses the Astros, Steinbrenner may use the savings to splurge for the free-agent outfielder Vladimir Guerrero. The Yankees could stay with the five starters they have but would more likely explore ways to add another prominent starter. They have tried to trade for the Los Angeles Dodgers' Kevin Brown, and those talks could be revived. (and more, not pettite so not added) Plus this: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/11/sports/baseball/11BASE.html And Exactly What Were They Thinking? By JACK CURRY Published: December 11, 2003 Andy Pettitte recently asked his father, Tom, whether he should sign his next contract with the Yankees or with the Houston Astros. Tom Pettitte did not offer an opinion, and instead suggested that his son take a simple approach in addressing the issue. Put the pluses and minuses about the Yankees on paper and then do the same for the Astros. The list should make things clearer, he said. That Andy Pettitte even came to the point where he needed to write down his thoughts about the Yankees, and about a future that the Yankees allowed to remain fuzzy for far too long, is a development that could haunt George Steinbrenner for years. For last night the Yankees were on the verge of losing a talented, low-maintenance pitcher who has been one of their pillars for nine years, a notion that seemed implausible to Pettitte's father just two days ago. Still, if Pettitte did take his father's advice and drew up the list, the positives and negatives it contained might be revealing. While Steinbrenner has been negotiating a contract with Gary Sheffield, a malcontent for multiple teams, Pettitte, as affable and honest as any Yankee, waited for an offer that approached market value. You can figure Pettitte listed that as a minus. And while the Yankees found time to negotiate a deal with David Wells, who bolted after one inning in the fifth game of the World Series and who had back surgery last week, Pettitte, who has pitched through elbow pain for years, waited for a call reminding him how valuable he was. It never really came. That would be another negative for Pettitte to scribble on the list. "I think he's frustrated," Tom Pettitte said of his son during a telephone interview on Tuesday. "Yeah, I think so. You want to know where you stand. You look at the way things are going and he's just kind of waiting." The Yankees have played a reckless game with the proud Pettitte, and that indifferent approach could end up with them losing the 31-year-old pitcher. Along with Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada, Pettitte is a homegrown Yankee who has contributed to four World Series titles, in his case with gutsy pitching. But that quintet might become a quartet in 2004. Since the Yankees did offer Pettitte a three-year, $30 million contract with some deferred money one day before their exclusive 15-day window to sign him expired last month, they might argue that they were aggressive in their pursuit of Pettitte. We did try to sign him, they will inevitably say, as Sheffield's voice is heard in the background asking for a few million more and Wells's voice is heard grousing about, well, everything. But what kind of message did the Yankees send by making Pettitte an offer they knew he would never accept within the 24 hours that were left before he became a full-fledged free agent? Not only did the Yankees stall negotiations with the proposal, Pettitte's father hinted that they alienated a player they claimed was their top priority. "I know Andy told me it was 14 days before he even heard a thing," Tom Pettitte said. By last night, the Yankees were privately talking as if they had lost Pettitte, and there was chatter among some American League executives about Pettitte demanding a four-year, $60 million contract to stay in the Bronx. While that is a mammoth amount, Bartolo Colón, who has 49 fewer career victories than Pettitte, signed a $51 million contract with the Anaheim Angels this week, and their payroll will probably be about half the Yankees' payroll, so Pettitte surely felt he should at least be in Colón's salary range. Unless Steinbrenner, who was traveling from New York to Florida yesterday, jumped back on his private jet, stopped off at Roger Clemens's house in Texas and brought the Rocket with him to try to sweet-talk Pettitte into returning, it appeared that Pettitte's long, winding, successful stint as a Yankee was coming to an end. "You either get a deal done or you have a divorce," said one person involved in the Pettitte negotiations. "But the divorces are never clean." If the Astros sign Pettitte, the Yankees might move quickly to acquire the injury-prone Kevin Brown from the Los Angeles Dodgers because the only certainties in their rotation would be Mike Mussina and Javier Vazquez. The Yankees would probably spin the notion that Pettitte chose his family over New York, which would be only partly true. The deeply religious Pettitte lives with his wife and three children in Deer Park, Tex., which is near Houston, and he often traveled home from New York on off days. Pettitte is very close to his parents, who also live in Deer Park and have been plagued by health problems. Being home had to be included on Pettitte's list as a big positive for the Astros. Still, if his decision was strictly based on family issues, he could have decided weeks ago to go with the Astros and not waited to hear from the Yankees. As Kazuo Matsui, the newest Met, addressed reporters at a news conference in a Midtown Manhattan hotel yesterday, a cellphone rang with the news that Pettitte might be signing with the Astros. Even when Steinbrenner was not trying to overshadow the Mets, he did. For the Yankees might have given Pettitte enough reasons to check his list twice and decide that Houston, not New York, was a better place to be.
The baseball editor here (and super die-hard Yankee fan) just guaranteed me that Pettitte will end up with the Yanks. He's well-versed in the game, so hopefully his blind Yankees bias has led him astray. However, after hearing that Pettitte will let the Yankees make a last offer to him, I'm not so sure he's wrong.
Fox just reported that it is done...Pettitte WILL be a Stro. AStros are scheduling a press conference fro later in the day. He listened to a Yank offer last night, but decided to come home. More details later.
Fox just reported that it is done...Pettitte WILL be a Stro. AStros are scheduling a press conference fro later in the day. He listened to a Yank offer last night, but decided to come home. More details later.
NEW YORK -- Andy Pettitte decided to pitch at home, agreeing Thursday to a three-year contract with the Houston Astros and bolt the New York Yankees. Pettitte made the decision after weighing a new offer from the Yankees on Wednesday night, a baseball source told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The Yankees' offer averaged about $13 million a year, while the Astros' proposal averaged about $13 million. Houston planned to announce the deal at a news conference Thursday. Pettitte's decision to sign with Houston was first reported by Newsday on its Web site. Pettitte, 31, is 149-78 with the Yankees, who signed him in 1991. If he had stayed in New York, he would have had the chance to surpass Whitey Ford's 236 victories and become the winningest left-hander in Yankees history. With the Astros, he joins a team trying to rebuild and win at the same time. Houston dealt closer Billy Wagner to Philadelphia last month in a cost-cutting move. Pettitte would combine with Wade Miller and Roy Oswalt to form a powerful front three in the rotation. While Houston has had many strong teams since joining the National League for the 1962 season, the Astros have never made it to the World Series. Without Pettitte, the Yankees are left with a rotation that includes Mike Mussina, Jose Contreras and Javier Vazquez, acquired from Montreal last week. Candidates for the back end of the rotation include Jeff Weaver, Jon Leiber and David Wells, who is close to agreement on a minor league contract. New York also could delve into the free-agent market, where Kevin Millwood is available. Or the Yankees could attempt to trade for a starter -- New York held some talks with Los Angeles about a deal for Kevin Brown, but the Dodgers wanted a major hitter in return.
They just reiterated the news . said it is a 3 yr/31mil deal.... they way they said it, leaves no room for doubt...they said he WILL be a Astro.
Yeah just to clarify from the ESPN article quoted by ROCKSS. THe Astros offer is misprinted. I believe theirs is more like $10 million/year.
