Joel Sherman Thinks Andy Pettitte Is a Jerk

Now that the Yankees have not offered arbitration to Andy Pettitte and his future is more uncertain than ever Joel Sherman of the NY Post is trying to persuade everyone that if Pettitte bolts, he's a phony.

He's making a pretty convincing argument.

Sherman rightly states that Pettitte repeatedly told reporters throughout the season that he would either retire or come back and pitch with the Yankees. He then changed his statement to he would like to come back and pitch in the new stadium and a one-year deal is likely what he wanted since it gave him the flexibility to decided his own fate at the end of each season.

Now, all of a sudden, Pettitte has been getting in touch with the Dodgers and possibly other teams about his services. What happened to him repeatedly saying it was the Yankees or nobody?

Another point Sherman makes is to Pettitte supposedly being upset the Yankees offered him a $10 million contract for next season instead of the $16 he feels he deserves.

Sherman says, and I agree with him, that maybe he owes it to the Yankees after the way they stood behind him when dealing with the entire steroid scandal which took place last year.

Besides, $10 million is essentially what Mike Mussina got each year in his final couple years.

Which brings us to Sherman's last point, Pettitte knew his name would be on the Mitchell Report a few weeks before it was released. He then re-signed a $16 million contract the week before the Mitchell Report was public. In one week, the Yankees thought they brought back an all-time Yankee great and instead just put the finishing touches on a steroid cheat's deal.

Maybe if Andy does decide to take his game over to Los Angeles, and somebody should tell him the Dodgers aren't making any visits to the Bronx in 2009, that he won't be the same beloved pitcher he has been since beating John Smoltz 1-0 in 1996.