If he does not sign here, it won't necessarily be because management didn't pursue him. That's all the Astros are saying is that they are pursuing him.
i don't have a problem with not signing pettitte but i do if we come into 04 with the same roster minus wagner. i expect drayton to do something with that money other than just pay our own.
i don't have a problem with not signing pettitte but i do if we come into 04 with the same roster minus wagner. i expect drayton to do something with that money other than just pay our own.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/story/137226p-122047c.html Andy top concern as Curt deal cools By ANTHONY McCARRON DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER The Yankees have had several big-name dalliances in the kicking-the-tires phase of the offseason, but Andy Pettitte remains their "principal concern," a club official said. With the Yankees irked by the rich price for Curt Schilling and having had no meetings yet with Gary Sheffield, Pettitte is "the only thing they're actually working on," according to a baseball official familiar with the Yanks' plans. GM Brian Cashman said he was playing "Mr. Mom" for his two kids yesterday after returning from the GM meetings in Arizona. The Yankees, he said, are "on Pettitte's clock" because his agents are intent on testing the market. "I trust in our relationship with them," Cashman said. He added that his "gut feel is that Andy wants to re-sign, but they want to see what's out there for him. "We've had conversations, but I don't think they're done with their information gathering." One of Pettitte's agents, Randy Hendricks, said by E-mail: "I don't want to speculate how things will go. I will confirm that we have a good relationship with all of the Yankee brass." The Bombers believe they need two starters, but the Schilling deal is losing steam because the Yankees think Arizona is asking for too much - Alfonso Soriano and Nick Johnson for Schilling, whose $12 million salary the Diamondbacks want to dump, and infielder Junior Spivey. "What Arizona was asking for was never in play," a Yanks official said. Added another: "They want more now than they'll get later, which is why they're in such a rush." As for the 35-year-old Sheffield, a baseball source said he called the Yankees and the team showed some interest in the suggestion of a two-year deal for around $18million, but it's believed Sheffield wants more years and dollars. His agent, Rufus Williams, would not talk specifics yesterday, saying only, "There's no haste to do something." The Yankees have also explored acquiring players such as Javier Vazquez, Odalis Perez and Bartolo Colon.
The Yankees are going to offer him a four-year deal worth upwards of 50 million. However with New York State Taxes a 4yr. 55 million contract in New York is worth the same to Pettitte as a 4 yr. 43 million contract in Houston. IMO he isn't worth either amount. Huge run support has obscured his true peformance.
The astros met today with Pettitte and his agent. It was announced on 610 when the Astros GM made the announcement. I really hope we can get that guy, bring him back home.
Article Pettitte, agents meet with Astros Parties expect to continue dialogue By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle Free-agent lefthander Andy Pettitte, whom the Yankees are trying to re-sign, met with Astros owner Drayton McLane and general manager Gerry Hunsicker at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday. Pettitte, who was joined at the meeting by his agents Randy and Alan Hendricks, grew up in Deer Park and has much of his family in Houston. "It went well," Hunsicker said. "It was very cordial and very informative. It was a chance to get to know each other." Randy Hendricks also was pleased with the first official meeting between the parties. "We met, and the meeting went very well, as good as could be expected," Randy Hendricks said. "We will continue our dialogue with the Astros." Pettitte finished this past season with 21-8 record and a 4.10 ERA. He is considered the top lefthander available in the market this winter, which is why the Yankees are believed to be willing to offer him a four-year deal worth at least $45 million. Although the Astros' budget isn't in a position to add a deal worth over $10 million a year, team officials will continue their quest in hopes that Pettitte's desire to play at home leads him to give Houston a hometown discount. "Everyone left the meeting feeling good about things," Hunsicker said. "I'm sure at some point we'll have another discussion and then decide where we'll proceed." McLane has made pitching his top priority this winter, but he is probably not willing to win a bidding war against Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. The Astros dumped Billy Wagner's $8 million salary for 2004 and a $3 million buyout on a $9 million option for 2005 by trading the closer to the Phillies earlier this month. Even with Wagner's salary off the books, the Astros' payroll will grow by at least $12 million next year unless they can dump outfielder Richard Hidalgo's $12 million salary. Nonetheless, McLane promised to explore Pettitte's willingness to pitch at home. On anotherfront, the Astros' chances of re-signing catcher Brad Ausmus received a major boost Tuesday as the San Diego Padres moved closer to acquiring All-Star catcher Ramon Hernandez and outfielder Terrence Long from the Oakland A's. Ausmus expected his negotiations with the Astros to clear up a bit by the close of business Tuesday before he headed on a four-day surfing trip to Baja California, Mexico. The meeting with Pettitte didn't give the Astros much time Tuesday to spend on Ausmus. "It slowed things down a little bit," Hunsicker said. "It's still our goal to find a way to bring Brad back to Houston."
Great headline in NYPost: Say it Ain't Sox! http://www.nypost.com/sports/yankees/42872.htm BEANTOWN-BOUND? By MARK HALE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 19, 2003 -- It would be George Steinbrenner's worst nightmare. And suddenly it has life. Andy Pettitte, pitching for the Boston Red Sox. Sources said yesterday that the Yankees' arch rivals have expressed interest in signing Pettitte. And according to the Associated Press, the Sox have already contacted the free-agent southpaw's representatives, Alan and Randy Hendricks. It gets worse. The 31-year-old Pettitte also met with the Astros yesterday. The meeting took place in Houston at Minute Maid Park. Astro GM Gerry Hunsicker and owner Drayton McLane were present, along with the Hendricks brothers. "It was not a negotiating meeting," Hunsicker told MLB.com. "It was very cordial, very informative. We both gained some insight toward each other. We talked about the Houston Astros, where we are, where we're headed." The Yankees knew, however, that the Astros would be a competitor for Pettitte, since he makes his home in Deer Park, Texas. But it is the Red Sox who have now provided the most intriguing drama in the chase for the best left-hander on the market. This year, the Red Sox touched Pettitte for a 5.04 ERA against them, but he won three of four decisions. Apparently, if you can't beat 'em, see if you can sign 'em. Or at the very least, see if you can drive up the price. Whether Pettitte ends up pitching with the Red Sox or not, the Sox are wisely employing some sound strategy here - at the very least, they could potentially force the Yankees to pay Pettitte more than they want. In fact, the Red Sox are playing a game the Yankees have always been good at - the Yankees have typically bluffed interest in players to raise the players' prices. Now, the Sox are targeting Pettitte, who is the Yankees' chief offseason priority. The veteran lefthander has spent his entire career in pinstripes, posting a 149-78 record and owning a 3.94 ERA. This year Pettitte went 21-8 with a 4.02 ERA, and in the postseason, he dazzled, going 3-1 with a sparkling 2.10 ERA. The Yankees' stance on Pettitte so far has essentially been to invite him to go check the market and come back and tell them what's been discovered. Why so trusting? The Yankees have a longstanding relationship with the Hendricks brothers, and believe they will get an honest appraisal of what the field is. It is believed that Pettitte will likely command a four-year deal for a minimum of $48 million. Still, it remains a longshot that Pettitte would actually end up with the Sox. For one, Steinbrenner is unlikely to ever allow that to happen. For another, it is believed that if Pettitte pitches anywhere other than The Bronx next year, it will be in Houston. An AL source was under the belief that the Astros would make a legitimate offer to Pettitte. But the Yankees are confident that when all the offers are in, theirs will be the highest bid. Essentially, they believe that if Pettitte, a devoted family man, leaves New York to pitch in Houston, it won't be because of money. The Yankees and Red Sox have battled over offseason pitchers before. Just last season, in fact, they clamored to ink Jose Contreras, with the Yankees eventually winning the bidding war with a four-year, $32 million offer.
Is Elarton a possibility to return? He was once good enough to not swap for some over the hill guy... http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~96~1775608,00.html Elarton lifts return hopes By Troy E. Renck Denver Post Sports Writer Four days a week, pitcher Scott Elarton heads to Coors Field to lift weights. That dedication not only has strengthened his case to return to the Rockies, but made it more likely. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for the work Scott has done. He has all the characteristics we are looking for," Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said. "It's not definite yet. But I really think we can get something worked out." Elarton, a Lamar native, is eligible for salary arbitration, a status that left pitcher Jose Jimenez unemployed and reliever Justin Speier facing an uncertain future. Elarton, though, made far less money - approximately $450,000 - leaving him more affordable on a tight budget. According to the collective bargaining agreement, the Rockies can retain Elarton at a 20 percent pay cut. If that stands, he could be signed quickly. How- ever, the players union might seek to have last year's incentives recognized in a new contract - he had escalator clauses for innings pitched totaling $1 million. At that price, the Rockies would exercise patience and attempt to re-sign Elarton after the nontender date on Dec. 20, the course the parties traveled last season. "I am optimistic that we will get something done," Elarton said, "whether it's sooner or later." Elarton is eager to reclaim a career colored by injury. Since joining the Rockies in July 2001, the 6-foot-7 right-hander is 4-6 with a 6.39 ERA. He regained his strength last season after missing 2002 because of shoulder surgery, but struggled with his control. Elarton admitted Tuesday that he had unrealistic expectations last season, a bitter season that included a demotion to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Elarton could refuse a Triple-A assignment next season because he has five years of experience in the big leagues. "Command is the last thing to come, and my delivery was off by a hair," said Elarton, who repeatedly altered his mechanics after being unable to keep his fastball down in the zone. "I was stubborn last year. I thought I could beat any timetable. My arm feels good. I am anxious to start throwing." O'Dowd was encouraged by Elarton's finish, which included a six-inning, one-run outing Sept. 19 against the San Diego Padres. The Rockies' rotation is wide open, pitching coach Bob Apodaca said, with only Jason Jennings and Shawn Chacon proven performers. "We figured it would take an entire year for Scott's (recovery)," O'Dowd said. "He should be stronger."
And this, from Insider: Pettitte drawing plenty of attention By Jim Baker MLB Insider November 19 8:45 AM ET It's nice to be loved. Who among us doesn't like the feeling that somebody loves us. Unless it's a stalker. That can be creepy. But, aside from attention from people who should be institutionalized for their obsessions, being loved is generally a good thing and very few folks on earth are seeing the kind of love going out to Andy Pettitte right now. Not only that, but the love he is getting is being expressed with offers of a gift even greater than love: money. The free agent lefthander is said to be the apple of many a general manager's eye. First off, the team with whom he has spent his career would like him back. Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News writes that it is the Yankees' "top priority this offseason" to get him back in the fold. Meanwhile, however, other suitors are lining up on his porch with flowers and candy. (OK, that's enough of the courting imagery.) The natural match would be the Astros in that Pettitte played his schoolboy ball in the greater Houston area and makes his home there in the offseason. He had a preliminary meeting with Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker yesterday. The Los Angeles Times reports the Angels have had their eyes on him as well. The Red Sox are in an excellent position to rock the Yankees boat a little -- or at least make them spend more money than they have to. Many have you have participated in fantasy baseball auctions where you know one of your buddies especially covets a certain player and you bid him up to a point where his final price doesn't make fiscal sense. Boston may well be in that position with the Yankees and Pettitte. As McCarron points out, the Jose Contreras affair is still fresh in the mind of Red Sox GM Theo Epstein and he could use an interest in Pettitte to force the Yankees to overpay to retain his services. Not that that is even a moral victory in the end in that there appears to be no end to the amount of money the Yankees have available to spend on payroll. Adding a couple of million bucks extra to Pettitte's bank account would have the same effect on the Yankees as running over a board with a nail in it would on a steam roller. Andy Pettitte would be a very nice fit for the Astros. What, exactly, is Pettitte worth? He made about $11 million last year. Is it realistic for him to expect more? His 2003 season produced a very nice won-lost record (21-8) but his 4.02 ERA was nothing special. In fact, it was barely better than league average. Pettitte was supported with over seven (!) runs per game last year, the second-best figure in the league behind Derek Lowe of the Red Sox. Among qualifying starters, Pettitte had the fourth-best run support in 2001 and the best in 2000. Would another team be willing to give him a pay raise because he has been able to amass nice-looking won-loss records in part because he has been pitching for a team with a voracious offense? Yes, Pettitte has pitched well and with a good deal of consistency throughout his career, but put those same efforts in another context and that very pretty 149-78 career record wouldn't look quite so rosy. Therefore, I am going to say that given the pay scale among pitchers and the current economic climate, Pettitte should be pretty happy with what he is making. This doesn't mean somebody won't make him richer, it's just that they must remember they're getting a pitcher who is used to being supported to the tune of two to three runs better than he allows. Knock that support average down to five per game or so and suddenly, 21-8 is 15-14 and anything more than $11 million per season will seem like something of an extravagance. Not for the Yankees, though. This is their guy and a fan favorite. They can afford a raise for him and will, no doubt, provide him with the kind of support he is used to. This brings up another question (and I may have discussed this previously at some point in the past two years): if Pettitte stays with New York, stays consistent and pitches another six or seven years, will he be a Hall of Fame candidate? If he can get to 200 wins and continue to win just about two of every three decisions, he'll have the kind of surface numbers that will give him some clout. There is also the matter of his being in the playoffs every season of his career (it occurred to me last month that the real face of October baseball is Pettitte's. What have we seen every postseason for the last decade? That's right, his eyes peering in at home plate out of the slit between his glove and the brim of his cap.) That extra curricular activity will earn him extra points with HOF voters. So, if Pettitte is someone who thinks in terms of legacy, staying in New York would be his smartest move in that the Yankees are always going to spare no expense to surround him with a talented ballclub. Meanwhile, Tyler Kepner of the New York Times reports that the Yankees would love to have their other left-handed starter -- David Wells -- back in the fold next year. They declined their $6 million option on him because of a bad back but still want him to finish out his career with one more season at Yankee Stadium. They are waiting to see the outcome of further testing on Wells. According to his agent, Gregg Clifton, "They haven't outlined anything, but they said they'd like to have him back. They want to see what's happening with his back -- what is wrong and what needs to be done to fix it. They said they want him back, but I don't know what it means, financially." The Padres have also expressed interest in Wells.
What, exactly, is Pettitte worth? He made about $11 million last year. Is it realistic for him to expect more? His 2003 season produced a very nice won-lost record (21-8) but his 4.02 ERA was nothing special. In fact, it was barely better than league average. Pettitte was supported with over seven (!) runs per game last year, the second-best figure in the league behind Derek Lowe of the Red Sox. Here's the problem. Is he really worth a 3 or 4 year, $10+ million deal?
No he's not. If he doesn't accept a 4 year 40 million contract from us then we shouldn't get in a bidding war for him. We can't afford to shell out more than that for a guy with an ERA above 4.00.
What is AP worth? Excellent question and one I am underqualified to answer. However, from what I saw of AP last year his ERA was inflated by bad innings. When he was on, he was lights out. When he was not, his pitches broke 400' -- i\over the fence. The (isolated) horrid innings inflated the ERA.
I mean... So you want to evaluate his worth by eliminating his bad innings? What if you did that with Pedro. He'd have like a 0.02 ERA. I don't want the Astros to sign Pettite. I'd rather see them get a new Center Fielder. I think that has to be the first priority.
If the 'stros believe he is worth courting then they should pay the guy market value or a little less. The $10 mill number floating around seems OK. Costs alot less to live in Texas and Pettite should put fans in MMP. Getting a lights out guy like Colon would be nice and should probably be the backup choice. But Pettite would be a solid guy to lead our staff.
ERAs can be high because I guy just can't consistently cut it and ERAs can be high because I guy just doesn't have it on a given day. AP is an excellent pitcher but he has lapses. How many would he win pitching for 'stros? 21 like the Yanks? 15? How much is a 15-10 guy worth? How much is a 15-10 guy worth who puts fannies into the stands? I, too, would love a new CF. Uh, what do we do with the current CF? He is entrenched with this team, seemingly undumpable. Convince him to retire? Make him manager over the newly, and unfortunately, re-signed, Jimy?
I don't think you pay a guy 10 mil to have an ERA of over 4. Maybe we should move Biggio back to catcher. Or make him a minor league manager. Something.
