The early part of the Yankees offseason has been filled with waiting, since much of what they are going to do will depend on free agents Andy Pettitte and Hiroki Kuroda.
Pettitte, 40, could give the Yankees a timetable for his answer this week.
The lefty indicated throughout the season he was leaning toward returning to The Bronx after coming out of retirement earlier this year.
He also said he wouldn’t make the Yankees wait nearly as long as he did last year, when he didn’t make up his mind until spring training.
The Yankees could use an answer soon and would like it to be “Yes,” because even with Pettitte around, they will have questions regarding their rotation.
CC Sabathia, coming off arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur in his left elbow, is the only top-of-the-rotation starter the Yankees have right now. While the Yankees are hopeful Phil Hughes can build on his bounce-back season and Ivan Nova and David Phelps can develop into consistent options, Pettitte and Kuroda fit their needs the best.
Both are open to one-year deals, which is something the Yankees are focused on in their attempt to get their payroll under $189 million for 2014, and both are proven winners.
Pettitte was his usual effective self when he was healthy last season. He was limited to 12 starts after missing three months with a broken leg, the result of a line drive up the middle hit by the Indians’ Casey Kotchman on June 27, and a setback from trying to rush back from the injury.
The 40-year-old signed for just $2.5 million a year ago because the Yankees’ budget had already been set, and he will be more expensive if he does decide to return.
While Pettitte would only consider playing for the Yankees, there is added competition for Kuroda, who is drawing interest from both the Angels and Dodgers.
Regardless of Pettitte’s and Kuroda’s decisions, general manager Brian Cashman said last week he intends to remain patient in putting together his roster.
“You can make it go quick in free agency and trades,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “If you want to compel someone to move as fast as possible and want something done early, you’ve got to pay to get it done … a lot. I’d rather take the patient approach.
“I’m ready to rock and roll, but it’s hard for players and agents to move early if they feel there could be more options later. You can overpay if you jump in too early and I don’t want to do that, but that won’t prevent me from doing something if I think it’s the right thing to do.”