Andy Pettitte, Don't Let the Door Hit You on the Way Out!

The news today is that Andy Pettitte, through his agents the Hendricks brothers, has rejected the Yankees' offer of one year at $10 million.

Last year Andy Pettitte was 14-14 with an ERA in excess of 4.50.

Much has been speculated that Pettitte really wanted to come back to the Yankees, that he loved being a Yankee, and that he really wanted to play in the new Yankee Stadium.

Apparently not.

Andy Pettitte is from Texas. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Pettitte grew up in Deer Park, Texas, where he graduated from High School.

He was drafted out of high school by the Yankees in the 22nd round but passed on signing and went to San Jacinto College, again in Texas.

His wife is from Texas, and her father pastors a church in Deer Park, where Andy and she have been very active in the church.

In 2003 Andy Pettitte was in the prime of his career.  That year he went 21-8 for the New York Yankees, who played in the World Series for the sixth time since Pettitte had joined the team.

But during his tenure with the Yankees, principal owner George Steinbrenner had often talked of trading Pettitte and never seemed to appreciate the pitcher.

After his brilliant 2003 season, Steinbrenner made no real effort to sign the lefty, and Pettitte left for Texas, signing a three-year deal with the Houston Astros, where he was once again teamed with his Texas buddy, Roger Clemens.

Pettitte was quoted after the 2003 season as saying he felt as though the Yankees did not appreciate him.  There was every reason to believe that that was true when no effort had been made to sign him.

After 2006, when his contract with Houston was up, the Astros offered him $12 million a year to re-sign.  But Andy wanted $14 mil, and when the 'Stros wouldn't budge, he again was quoted as saying that he felt like he was not appreciated.

And he had been injured as an Astro and had not had stellar numbers in his last season there.

So he came back to the Yankees, signing for the 2007 season, when he pitched reasonably well and was healthy.  He seemed to be happy to back in the Bronx and talked effusively about how good it felt to pitch without pain in his elbow.

Nothing was certain about the 2008 season, but finally Pettitte took another one-year deal for $16 million.

But 2008 was a down year for Pettitte and the Yankees, who failed to make the postseason for the first time since 1995.

Very few people can doubt that Pettitte is no longer worth $16 million dollars.  He is older and had injury problems in 2008.

At one time Pettitte was a Number One or Two starter on the best team in baseball. 

Now, if he were to return to the Yankees, he would be the Number Five starter on a team that finished third in their division last year.

The Yankees offered one year at $10 million.  By contrast, another big lefty, Randy Johnson, just signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants for a reported $8 million.

While most fans would rather see Pettitte in pinstripes than Johnson, it would be hard to argue that Pettitte is now worth more money than Johnson, who is a certain Hall of Famer, whereas Andy is not.

The Yankees offered more money, and Pettitte rejected it.

So apparently, he really does not want to be a Yankee. 

Apparently he really does not love New York.

Apparently he really does not want to play in the new Yankee Stadium.

He will find it very difficult to find a team that will pay him more than $10 million for one year.

He may think there is a two-year deal out there somewhere, and maybe there will be.

But his agents have had plenty of time to find that two-year deal worth more than $10 million per year, and so far it apparently has not been forthcoming.

Maybe Andy just really wants to stay in Texas.

Maybe Andy doesn't want the opportunity to be the fifth starter on a team that has proven this offseason that they are dedicated to putting the best possible product on the field.

Maybe Andy would rather play for the Rangers or the Dodgers or the Royals if they will pay him more money.

Maybe Andy just never feels appreciated.

But it will be hard for Andy to convince Yankee fans that he really wanted to be a Yankee when he has rejected the team that he claimed he really wanted to be a part of.

For this Yankee fan, if he is really waving goodbye, all I can say is I'm sorry you feel so underappreciated, and don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.