ESPN is reporting that longtime Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte has decided to retire and will make his official announcement on Friday at Yankee Stadium. A high ranking Yankees official told them, "He's on a plane right now, and unless he changes his mind in the air there will be a press conference tomorrow and he will retire."
Pettitte started out with a career year last season, but was quickly waylaid with a groin injury, missing much of the season (he finished 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA). In the wake of the Cliff Lee disaster, with the team desperate for quality pitching, many thought the Yanks would double down in their efforts to get Pettitte to return. Yanks GM Brian Cashman told reporters last month that he was prepared for this scenario: "Andy has told me he's not in play, and that's what I am assuming. Until he tells me otherwise, I'm assuming he's not going to be here.'' At the moment, the Yankees have CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett at the top of their rotation; recently signed veterans Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia, as well as Ivan Nova and journeyman Sergio Mitre, will be in cmpetition for the final two spots in the rotation.
