While the hints dropped by Derek Jeter last night point to free agents Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera remaining in pinstripes, it may not be all roses for the Yankees, as Andy Pettitte seems to be inching toward retirement.
That nugget came from Dodgers manager Joe Torre, who also indicated before his Safe at Home Foundation gala that his new team could be in the running for Alex Rodriguez.
“As far as Alex, you’ve got four or five clubs that figure to be in the sweepstakes, but there aren’t a lot of clubs that can pay the money to get him,” Torre said.
Are the Dodgers interested?
“It’s possible, possible, possible,” Torre said.
Pettitte earlier this week declined his $16 million option for next season with the Yankees, saying he needs more time to decide if he wants to pitch or retire, and Torre indicated the odds favor the left-hander’s retirement.
Pettitte originally was scheduled to appear at Torre’s dinner last night at Chelsea Piers – joining Jeter, Posada, Rivera, Bernie Williams and Paul O’Neill, among others – but chose to remain home in Houston for his son’s high-school football game. Torre spoke to Pettitte earlier in the week.
“Just knowing Andy, money isn’t an issue for him,” Torre said. “He said he’s not closing any doors, but he’s leaning toward staying home.”
Posada and Rivera did not speak with reporters last night, but Jeter emphasized he was not worried about losing either longtime teammate. Earlier in the day Posada was spotted having lunch with his wife Laura, agent Seth Levinson and general manager Brian Cashman at Fresco in midtown.
Jeter is extremely tight with Posada and Rivera and has no reason to believe either player will bolt The Bronx. The Yankees have an exclusive window to negotiate with both free agents that ends Monday. Each has received an offer of roughly $40 million over three years.
“I think they are coming back,” Jeter said, wearing a sheepish grin. “I just think they’re coming back.”
Torre also would be surprised if Posada and Rivera didn’t return to the Yankees.
“Comfort is a big thing,” Torre said. “You want to have a fit and feel good. [Otherwise] you go somewhere and try to feel worthy again, and that’s tough to do.”
Jeter didn’t seem saddened about the departure of Rodriguez, whom the Yankees have said they will not sign after the slugger opted out of his contract.
“It takes more than one person to win,” Jeter said. “We’ve had teams that have won and haven’t had numbers like [Rodriguez] put up, so you don’t necessarily have to have those type of numbers to win.”
Torre is close to completing his coaching staff with the Dodgers, but don’t expect to see Lee Mazzilli heading to Los Angeles. The former Yankees coach, who was expected to become Torre’s bench coach, has withdrawn his name from consideration because of family matters. His mother is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and Mazzilli wants to remain near her in Connecticut.
Torre already has Larry Bowa and Don Mattingly on board. The latter will serve as the Dodgers’ hitting coach after spending last season as the Yankees’ bench coach. Mattingly, who lost to Joe Girardi in the Yankees’ managerial race, said he doesn’t view the move to hitting coach as a demotion.
“I look at it as I’m going to the Dodgers to help them win,” Mattingly said. “And right now Joe and I talked about it and we feel like it’s the best position . . . where I’ll be most useful, and I’m really comfortable with it.”
mpuma@nypost.com