http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/story/477269p-401559c.html
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12052006/sports/yankees/yanks_pitch_bronx_to_uncertain_pettitte_yankees_george_king.htm
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spyanks1205,0,4514236.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines
http://www.newsday.com/sports/printedition/ny-spyanks045002244dec04,0,4078269.story?coll=ny-sports-print
whoever was wondering about the Yankees direction, I think it is fairly obvious. The Yankees want Andy Pettitte and from published reports, it looks like the Astros may be moving on without the lefty. The Woody Williams signing was likely an indicator of the stros disinterest in a rocket redux and now the stros are making a pitch to Schmidt, Lilly and Meche. The Yankees obviously want to add stability and Pettitte would certainly offer that. He surpassed 200IP each of his last 2 seasons and 2005 was a career yr for him. Last season, he struggled out the gate after offseason surgery but finished strong as the stros tried to make their annual playoff push. Not only would Pettitte offer the yankees another left handed starter (something that would be even more intriguing should the sox sign Drew and move Manny) but they would be adding a pitcher with extreme yankee ties while still being close to prime. At 34, with Clemens work ethic (and exercise program), and with a huge frame he will likely last a bit longer than a guy like Lilly or other smaller pitchers. Overall, I never endorsed signings of Meche or Lilly or any of the like as I think they would be Pavano all over again. But signing Pettitte would add a top of the rotation arm with Yankee experience and I think that is something that cannot be quantified.