Andy Pettitte Could Put Yankees in a Bind

Andy Pettitte is a free agent once again. It’s retirement or another year on the mound for the veteran lefty. The Yankees need him to play one more year.

Currently, the Yankees have three pitchers penciled into their five-man starting rotation for next season: CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes.

Cliff Lee is the biggest name on this year's free agent market and the Yankees will go after him hard. After Lee, there are no other ace-type starters available. Pettitte is the next best. The Yankees would love to have Pettitte return while also landing Lee.

The reality is that Pettitte very well may call it a career. In fact, it sounds as if right now, he is leaning toward retirement.

“I’m just going to wait and see what my heart wants me to do,” Pettitte said. “Right now, I can tell you my heart’s right here in Deer Park (Texas). If something happens and I play one more year, that would be it. It would be one more year and that would be it.”

If Pettitte does not return and the Yankees are unable to convince Lee to sign with them, GM Brian Cashman may need to work some magic. According to reports, the Yankees are interested in Jorge De La Rosa. The question is, just how much will De La Rosa cost?

Continue this article at Double G Sports.