It looks like Andy Pettitte will not help bolster a thin New York Yankees starting rotation.
The left-hander has decided to retire and will make an announcement on Friday, a source told Michael Kay of ESPN Radio in New York on Thursday. The announcement will take place at Yankee Stadium, a source told The Associated Press.
A high-ranking team official confirmed the reports.
"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," the official said.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has been trying to find another starter to follow CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett. He recently signed deals with Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon, and the veteran right-handers will get a look in spring training.
Youngster Ivan Nova and journeyman Sergio Mitre will also compete for a spot.
Pettitte got off to one of the best starts of his career last season, earning an All-Star nod. A groin injury derailed his season, however, and he finished 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA in only 21 starts.
Pettitte had told the Yankees to prepare for the season as if he weren't pitching.
"Andy has told me he's not in play, and that's what I am assuming,'' Cashman said Jan. 18. "Until he tells me otherwise, I'm assuming he's not going to be here.''
The 38-year-old is 240-138 with a 3.88 ERA in 16 seasons with the Yankees and Houston Astros. He made three All-Star teams and won 20 games twice.
But Pettitte is perhaps best known as a clutch playoff performer. He holds the record for most postseason wins with 19 and was a part of five Yankees World Series championship teams.
Pettitte is expected to testify against Roger Clemens during a trial scheduled for this summer on charges that his former teammate lied about the use of performance-enhancing drugs during a congressional hearing. Clemens denies using PEDs. Pettitte admitted he used human growth hormone and claimed Clemens admitted privately he did, too.
Source: AP
The left-hander has decided to retire and will make an announcement on Friday, a source told Michael Kay of ESPN Radio in New York on Thursday. The announcement will take place at Yankee Stadium, a source told The Associated Press.
A high-ranking team official confirmed the reports.
"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," the official said.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has been trying to find another starter to follow CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett. He recently signed deals with Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon, and the veteran right-handers will get a look in spring training.
Youngster Ivan Nova and journeyman Sergio Mitre will also compete for a spot.
Pettitte got off to one of the best starts of his career last season, earning an All-Star nod. A groin injury derailed his season, however, and he finished 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA in only 21 starts.
Pettitte had told the Yankees to prepare for the season as if he weren't pitching.
"Andy has told me he's not in play, and that's what I am assuming,'' Cashman said Jan. 18. "Until he tells me otherwise, I'm assuming he's not going to be here.''
The 38-year-old is 240-138 with a 3.88 ERA in 16 seasons with the Yankees and Houston Astros. He made three All-Star teams and won 20 games twice.
But Pettitte is perhaps best known as a clutch playoff performer. He holds the record for most postseason wins with 19 and was a part of five Yankees World Series championship teams.
Pettitte is expected to testify against Roger Clemens during a trial scheduled for this summer on charges that his former teammate lied about the use of performance-enhancing drugs during a congressional hearing. Clemens denies using PEDs. Pettitte admitted he used human growth hormone and claimed Clemens admitted privately he did, too.
Source: AP