Yanks To Lower Offer For Pettitte

post from Sliding Into Home: A Yankees Blog on 06 January 2009 01:38:00 PM. © Sliding Into Home: A Yankees Blog

Andy Pettitte's chances to return to the Yankees have dropped precipitously because in the aftermath of the Mark Teixeira signing the organization is now strongly inclined to lower the $10 million offer that the lefty already has been resistant to all offseason, the Post has learned.

Pettitte recently rejected the Yankees' latest $10 million overture, and now - barring a wave of sentimentality by the Yanks New York Yankees or significant change of strategy by either side - that dollar figure very likely will not be offered again.
Multiple sources refused to divulge if the offer had been lowered already. But one executive briefed on the matter described both the chances of making a deal and the $10 million bid as on life support. Another executive said he did not believe that the $10 million offer was there to be taken any longer. A lowered offer almost certainly would assure the end of the prideful Pettitte's second tour with the Yankees.

It sounds like his days as a Yankee are indeed over. Sad to see things go down this way.

Here are some quotes about Pettitte from Brian Cashman:

"I know there are reports right now, but it's better stated so far that he hasn't accepted an offer," Cashman said on the YES Network after Mark Teixeira's press conference.

"That's just the way the negotiation process has gone. It's not any different than anybody else's. Because of who he is, how special he is and how important he has been to this town it does a play a lot louder and it can play out this way."
"We've done a lot this Winter and right now it is a strong possibility that this is the team we're going to go with into Spring Training," Cashman said. "At the same time we have stayed engaged with obviously people that are of interest with us. It doesn't mean that Andy isn't going to pitch with the Yankees in '09 and it doesn't mean that something can change and he will pitch with the Yankees next year."

I'm very surprised to see how this whole thing has played out. I really thought Pettitte would swallow his pride and sign the $10 million deal to make one more run at a ring with the Yanks.