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Yankees Sign Andy Pettitte

By Mike Axisa | March 16, 2012 at 11:34am CDT

A year after retiring, Andy Pettitte is back in pinstripes. The Yankees announced that they signed the 39-year-old left-hander to a minor league contract. Pettitte, a Hendricks Sports client, can potentially earn $2.5MM on the deal, which doesn't include incentives. 

Andy Pettitte - Yankees

Pettitte announced his retirement from baseball after the 2010 season and did not play at all in 2011. He got the itch to return while with the team as a guest instructor earlier this month, ESPN's Buster Olney reports (on Twitter). The Yankees have left the door open for a return since Pettitte retired, so they were able to work a deal out once he decided to return.

It's unlikely that Pettitte will be able to start the season with the team. Joel Sherman of the New York Post says (on Twitter) that he will use the rest of Spring Training to get in shape, then rejoin the club. The Yankees currently have CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda, Hiroki Kuroda, Phil Hughes, Freddy Garcia, and Ivan Nova for five rotation spots, so Pettitte makes seven starters for five spots.

Photo courtesy Icon SMI. Jack Curry of The YES Network first reported the deal. Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post.

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New York Yankees Transactions Andy Pettitte

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View Comments (165)
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165 Comments

  1. j6takish

    13 years ago

    Que?

    Reply
    • twenty1thirteen

      13 years ago

      My thoughts exactly.

      Reply
      • Tko11

        13 years ago

        When I saw it on ESPN, I thought they were doing like a “this day 4 years ago segment” but no it is for real. 

        Reply
        • jedicouncil

          13 years ago

           ron guidry is next

          Reply
    • Coollet

      13 years ago

      Wha..?!

      Reply
  2. fxx3605

    13 years ago

    am i really seeing this

    Reply
  3. Mike Scorpio™

    13 years ago

    Is today April Fool’s Day? Am I dreaming?

    Reply
    • Ethan Wolvek

      13 years ago

      I had to check the date too. Could be a good thing. The warm place in my heart that’s reserved for Andy is happy but, as with so many other things involving the Yanks, I’ll reserve my enthusiasm for when reality strikes (no pun intended).

      Reply
  4. jamesa-2

    13 years ago

    Did NOT see this one coming at all.

    Reply
  5. Kevin Hill

    13 years ago

    wait, what?

    Reply
  6. Zachary Eick

    13 years ago

    Are ya sure it is not some other guy who happens to have the name Andy Pettitte?

    Reply
    • $17049574

      13 years ago

      Yes. He’s 46 and used to be called “Freddy Garcia”. Stupid birth certificates.

      Reply
    • CAD_Monkey

      13 years ago

      That’s what I was thinking.  I had to count the t’s to make sure he’s the real Andy Pettitte

      Reply
    • Ethan Wolvek

      13 years ago

      Maybe it’s Fausto Carmona posing as Andy Pettite.

      Reply
  7. DerekJeterDan

    13 years ago

    IS this true !?!? YES!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Patrick Oliver

      13 years ago

      YES! (no TV pun intended)

      Reply
  8. Adam Bergstein

    13 years ago

    Is this an early April Fools joke?

    Reply
  9. patsfanatic2010

    13 years ago

    Holy crap, what happened to retirement Andy?

    Reply
    • gmenfan 2

      13 years ago

       Eh … that wife … those kids … that barking dog. Retirement sucks …

      Reply
  10. ColonelTom

    13 years ago

    It’s not April 1, is it?

    Big pickup for the Yankees if Pettitte can pull it together for one more run.

    Reply
    • TheHotCorner 2

      13 years ago

       Exactly…either can’t afford them or doesn’t want to be around them.

      Reply
  11. Vmmercan

    13 years ago

    What?

    Reply
  12. Morley C

    13 years ago

    I know, I know, the new rules say you’re not supposed to ask “is this a joke?”…but seriously…I actually want to know.

    Reply
  13. Jay Montero

    13 years ago

    Wow, did someone get hurt. Guess Hughes never gonna start again lol

    Reply
  14. DerekJeterDan

    13 years ago

    Yankees are loaded for 2012. 

    Reply
  15. bj82

    13 years ago

    Maybe Pineda is really staring in the minors

    Reply
    • Gregory Hourani

      13 years ago

      could work

      Reply
    • letsgogiants

      13 years ago

      Theres no way Pettitte starts the year in the Yanks rotation…he won’t be ready as they’re probably put him in extended spring training and maybe even in Triple-A later on to see if his stuff is back.

      Reply
  16. rfffr

    13 years ago

    Wha–what WHAT?

    Reply
  17. NYBravosFan10

    13 years ago

    miiiiiiiight wanna consider editing that one

    Reply
    • diesel2410

      13 years ago

      This isn’t offensive at all…

      Reply
      • NYBravosFan10

        13 years ago

        yeah, I guess not but hey, everything is offensive to somebody on the internet right?

        Reply
        • diesel2410

          13 years ago

          Did you seriously just flag that?

          Reply
          • NYBravosFan10

            13 years ago

            Nope, that wasn’t me

            Reply
    • Ryan

      13 years ago

      Nevermind.

      Reply
    • Patrick Oliver

      13 years ago

      What was said?

      Reply
      • grant77

        13 years ago

        I said there was a typo and wondered how the Yankees kept this so quiet.

        Reply
        • Patrick Oliver

          13 years ago

          What is wrong with that? Were choice words used?

          Reply
      • grant77

        13 years ago

        I said there was a typo and wondered how the Yankees kept this so quiet.

        Reply
  18. Lastings

    13 years ago

    “Roger Clemens!!!!!!! Is in George’s… Wait what? Andy Pettitte? Damn…”- Suzyn Waldman

    Reply
  19. jondogg2010

    13 years ago

    I seriously thought I accidentally loaded the 2005 Mlbtraderumors feed. If there was one at the time. erm.

    Reply
  20. TheGalen

    13 years ago

    What?!? Is this a joke??

    Reply
  21. Vmmercan

    13 years ago

    Did the liner knock Freddy’s hand off or something?

    Reply
  22. Rafael A. Valera R.

    13 years ago

    So… LOOGY acquired?

    Reply
  23. WILL__H

    13 years ago

    I thought he was signed to be the new coach of the KNICKS

    Reply
  24. Phillies_Aces35

    13 years ago

    He’s the new Brett Favre… not Oswalt.

    Reply
  25. Dan Toma

    13 years ago

    This just in – Andy Pettite has changed his name to Andy Cuarenta y Seis

    Reply
    • Ferrariman

      13 years ago

      don’t you mean cuatroseis

      Reply
  26. Matt Rox

    13 years ago

    omg??

    Reply
  27. mapway

    13 years ago

    Does he have any gas left in his tank?
    HJ

    Reply
    • gmenfan 2

      13 years ago

       Better question … does he even have a gas tank ?

      Reply
      • Coollet

        13 years ago

        Nope, he works on steam power

        Reply
      • JacobyWanKenobi

        13 years ago

         Even better question … Can the Yankees afford gas at $5 a gallon? I can’t.

        Reply
        • gmenfan 2

          13 years ago

          If anyone can, it’s the Yankees.

          Reply
  28. Nick C

    13 years ago

    His wife and kids must be driving him nuts………..

    Reply
  29. Nick C

    13 years ago

    His wife and kids must be driving him nuts……..

    Reply
    • tapehead4

      13 years ago

      You can say that again…

      Reply
  30. GoFish

    13 years ago

    Not wanting to be upstaged by their crosstown rivals, the Mets have reportedly convinced Al Leiter to unretire.

    Reply
    • Vmmercan

      13 years ago

      Leiter might have something left in the tank….Knowing the Mets it would be Steve Trachsel.

      Reply
    • MB923

      13 years ago

      Better off bringing Bobby Bo back, after all, he’s probably making just as much as Pettitte is right now lol

      Reply
    • HobokenMetsFan

      13 years ago

      yep, he’s penciled in to be the ace of our staff too!

      Reply
    • MetsMagic

      13 years ago

      We’re one step ahead, remember David Cone in 2003? 

      Reply
  31. notsureifsrs

    13 years ago

    stem cells

    Reply
    • mainesox

      13 years ago

      How long before we see “Red Sox Sign Pedro Martinez?”

      Reply
      • NJMAXsports

        13 years ago

         What is Luis Tiant up to these day?

        Reply
        • Ian_Smell

          13 years ago

          Oil Can Boyd!

          Reply
          • MetsMagic

            13 years ago

            He never did make that comeback. I was looking forward to that. 

            Reply
  32. Cassandra Malork

    13 years ago

    I did not see this coming, but this is a great thing for Yankees baseball! So excited to see Andy P. back in Pinstripes!

    Reply
  33. Benjamin Edwards

    13 years ago

    Now they are poised to win the 2000 World Series.

    Reply
    • Vmmercan

      13 years ago

      Not for anything, but Pettitte two years ago shut down Texas in the ALCS. Granted he lost 2-0, but that was only because Cliff Lee had a 13K shutout.

      Reply
    • jjs91

      13 years ago

      Petites last good year was his last year

      Reply
      • ellisburks

        13 years ago

        In 2010.

        Reply
        • jjs91

          13 years ago

          So a whole year off big deal.

          Reply
          • ellisburks

            13 years ago

            one and a 1/3. but who’s counting.

            Reply
            • jjs91

              13 years ago

              That extra 4 months is a real killer

              Reply
              • ellisburks

                13 years ago

                At 25 maybe not. At 39 ehhhhh….

                Reply
            • jjs91

              13 years ago

              That extra 4 months is a real killer

              Reply
          • ellisburks

            13 years ago

            one and a 1/3. but who’s counting.

            Reply
        • MB923

          13 years ago

          Look what happened to Bartolo. And he was an ineffective pitcher when he left.

          Reply
          • ellisburks

            13 years ago

            And how often does that happen?

            Reply
            • MB923

              13 years ago

              I don’t know, how often does a pitcher in his late 30’s/early 40’s retire for a whole year and then come back?

              And as peopel said in case you don’t know, his last season he was very good. Sure it came a year and a half ago but that doesn’t mean he still cant pitch good ball games.

              Besides, I’m sure you would take him in the Sox rotation over some of the back end possibilities anyway.

              Reply
  34. Vmmercan

    13 years ago

    Join the team? I’m so confused. I literally have no explanation for this. Even if somehow Nova and all of his success was held in the minors for no reason, Hughes and Freddy filled out the bullpen, you still have three mlb ready minor leaguers….Why does this make any sense?

    Reply
    • jjs91

      13 years ago

      Nova may have nothing to work on in the minors but pineda might if they want him to perfect the change, hughes could also be put there to work on the curve i guess.but this changes nothing for at least a month.

      Reply
    • Mike Bratton

      13 years ago

      ticket sales

      Reply
      • Vmmercan

        13 years ago

        They’re gonna draw 3.5 million instead of 3.5 million?

        Reply
  35. PJ Hawkins

    13 years ago

    I guess he doesn’t have to worry about the Clemens’ trial…

    Reply
  36. Ian_Smell

    13 years ago

    What year is it?

    Reply
  37. Tko11

    13 years ago

    Brett Favrin it I see “the itch is there” 

    Reply
  38. Ryan

    13 years ago

    Does this have anything to do with the Clemens re-trial?  It looked all but certain that he would have to testify against The Rocket, now since it was his wife’s testimony that caused the mis-trail, and the retrial date has been set for 4/16, maybe the lawyers agreed in discovery to exclude everything and anything related to “The Little Buddy” and move on with the trial? 

    And now POOF!!!  Heeeeeeeeere’s ANDY!!!

    Reply
    • hardcoreforhardcore

      13 years ago

       You very well may be on to something there.

      Reply
      • Ryan

        13 years ago

        Combine that with the fact that Pettitte made a quick exit from baseball when Clemens was first indicted.  A lot of smoke here, probably some fire somwhere too.

        Reply
      • Ryan

        13 years ago

        Combine that with the fact that Pettitte made a quick exit from baseball when Clemens was first indicted.  A lot of smoke here, probably some fire somwhere too.

        Reply
  39. Johnny S

    13 years ago

    not for nothing , but didnt Andy talk Posada into retirement? I dunno, I can’t make sense of this

    Reply
  40. ARod's Ring

    13 years ago

    Posada must feel really lonely now.

    Reply
    • MB923

      13 years ago

      No, he’s got Bernie and Tino and Paulie lol

      Reply
    • MB923

      13 years ago

      No, he’s got Bernie and Tino and Paulie lol

      Reply
  41. Chris

    13 years ago

    is this a early april fools joke?

    Reply
  42. dj caliber

    13 years ago

    Does this mean Mo pushes back his retirement announcement?

    Reply
  43. dj caliber

    13 years ago

    Does this mean Mo pushes back his retirement announcement?

    Reply
  44. grant77

    13 years ago

    Typo alert!

    Wonder how the Yankees kept this quiet for so long.

    Reply
  45. grant77

    13 years ago

    Typo alert!

    Wonder how the Yankees kept this quiet for so long.

    Reply
  46. Michael J. Loera

    13 years ago

    This is Awesome! Glad to see he’s coming back.

    Reply
    • Patrick Oliver

      13 years ago

      I agree.

      Reply
  47. KyleB

    13 years ago

    Maybe he’s using steroids again…since you know that’s okay.

    Reply
    • Patrick Oliver

      13 years ago

      Let us move on.

      Reply
  48. MB923

    13 years ago

     LOL Jack Curry just wrote this on Twitter:

    When Pettitte heard Cashman talk about Pettitte on the Michael Kay Show, he told Cashman that got “his juices flowing.”

    Reply
  49. m4r1n3r

    13 years ago

    He’s likely to make the rotation unless he is terrible which I don’t see him being terrible. That being the case… who do Yankee fans see getting bumped from the rotation?

    Reply
    • m4r1n3r

      13 years ago

       And do you think it might be Pineda based on the fact that if you keep him in AAA you can get one more year of control.

      Reply
    • Patrick Oliver

      13 years ago

      I would bump Garcia. I would have Garcia as a long RP. That is if everyone pitches well.

      Reply
  50. formerdraftpick 2

    13 years ago

    Cool.  Very cool.

    Reply
  51. dook83

    13 years ago

    He would be Boston’s #3 starter lol

    Reply
    • MB923

      13 years ago

      I don’t know about #3, but probably #4

      Reply
    • Paul Shailor

      13 years ago

       he would have been their number 1 in september last year.

      Reply
    • Paul Shailor

      13 years ago

       he would have been their number 1 in september last year.

      Reply
  52. Patrick Oliver

    13 years ago

    Welcome back Andy! Glad you are back one more year.

    Reply
  53. Ryan

    13 years ago

    Nevermind.

    Reply
  54. visionsofsilver

    13 years ago

    He’s broke and needs the money. Move along.

    Reply
  55. ferbull

    13 years ago

    andy its back !!

    Reply
  56. Yankeeboy11

    13 years ago

    I wonder how’s the rotation ganna look like when Andy reaches the majors 

    Reply
  57. JaKool

    13 years ago

    If he can’t beat out Hughes and Garcia he stinks.  Hughes is nothing but a big BUST and Garcia’s fastball is 80 mph. 

    Reply
  58. Tinker61

    13 years ago

    I wonder why all the non Yankees fans feel the urge to make “cutesy” remarks about a guy that’s won 240 games or so coming back after one year.   Players come back from injuries that have been out a year.  As a long time yankees fan, I think it’s a great idea, and wish hin all the sucess.

    Reply
    • HerbertAnchovy

      13 years ago

      I’m not a Yankee fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I always liked Pettitte. Seems like a classy guy. 

      Reply
  59. Tinker61

    13 years ago

    I wonder why all the non Yankees fans feel the urge to make “cutesy” remarks about a guy that’s won 240 games or so coming back after one year.   Players come back from injuries that have been out a year.  As a long time yankees fan, I think it’s a great idea, and wish hin all the sucess.

    Reply
  60. lanienyc

    13 years ago

    My prayers have been answered!

    Reply
    • Patrick Oliver

      13 years ago

      Mine as well.

      Reply
    • Patrick Oliver

      13 years ago

      Mine as well.

      Reply
  61. RobM

    13 years ago

    Mariano Rivera please take note.  Playing MLB and making millions is more fun that staying home with the kids.

    Reply
  62. RobM

    13 years ago

    Posada might want to start taking some pratice swings based on how Ibanez has looked this spring.

    Reply
  63. MeYankeeGirl212

    13 years ago

    I’m so happy I could scream for joy. Last year when he “retired” I was so sad that I never wanted to watch another game. Boy oh Boy–just look at me now !! I just bought my subscription !!

    Reply
  64. Desiree' DeShannon

    13 years ago

    I guess it takes over a year to flush one’s system of performance enhancing drugs

    Reply
    • yahoo-36IUSCJ62V64UGGNZWMOCS6VRQ

      13 years ago

      Hello Everyone! I too am very happy. Let’s all remember that Nolan Ryan went 12-6 when he was 44.Early Wynn went 22-10 when he was 39 and 8-2 when he was 41. Now don’t mean to insult anyone but does anyone think that Andy would come within 100 mile from a performance enhanching substance?Greg Maddux went 14-11 when he was 41. So don’t sell Andy short!

      Reply
      • Max Forstag

        13 years ago

        Will Derek Lowe challenge for the Cy Young this season too?

        Reply
  65. Yankee Lover 1

    13 years ago

    Omg Andy pettite was not seeing this coming thank the lord

    Reply
  66. Runtime

    13 years ago

    …what?

    Reply
  67. Yankeesgirl

    13 years ago

    49 year old pitcher? It seems kinda risky, but I really want a comeback. I think he will do fine…for his age.

    Reply
  68. William Mendoza

    13 years ago

    incredible go yankees!!

    Reply
  69. Patrick Oliver

    13 years ago

    My rotation – Sabathia (LHP), Nova (RHP), Pettitte (LHP)
    My closer – Rivera (RHP)
    My bullpen – Soriano (RHP), Robertson (RHP), Wade (RHP)
    My tryouts – All others
    Note – Pettitte is in the rotation as soon as ready, but not on Opening Day. Whomever won the spring tryout would be my temporary.

    Reply

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