MLB

Re-signing Pettitte is Yankees’ top priority

TAMPA, Fla. – When the Yankees’ brass exited George M. Steinbrenner Field today, two things had been established: Hal Steinbrenner gave Brian Cashman a budget and Andy Pettitte’s return was atop the To-Do-List.

“We set a budget and now we will go about executing a game plan,’’ said Cashman, who will begin talking money with agents. “We have our priorities and we will start working.’’

Asked what amount of dollars the World Champs have coming off the payroll, Cashman said, “I am going with the number Hal gave me.’’

With the free agent marketplace not housing CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira and the Yankees not having the weaknesses of last winter, the plan is for the 2010 Opening Day payroll to be short of the $201 million it was last April.

Early in the free agent negotiation process, the Yankees are going to focus on bringing Pettitte. They will see what Johnny Damon wants and remain engaged with Hideki Matsui.

Of course, they won’t ignore what develops with Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, John Lackey and what the Blue Jays do with Roy Halladay.

As for Pettitte, he has to inform the Yankees he wants to return, something they expect to hear.

With Sabathia and Burnett on top of the rotation, the Yankees today don’t have a No. 3 starter and don’t appear enamored with Lackey.

Pettitte, 38 in June, has become a priority, ahead of Damon, who would create a huge void in left field and in the leadoff spot should he leave.

Pettitte, who went 14-8 with a 4.16 ERA last year and 4-0 with a 3.52 ERA in the postseason when he pitched the clinching games against the Twins, Angels and Phillies, made a base salary of $5.5 million last year and earned another $5 million in incentives.

After making $16 million in 2007 and 2008, Pettitte is likely looking for a sizeable bump.

Bringing him back is priority because the Yankees can’t be sure if returning Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain to the rotation is the right move.

“They will prepare as starters,’’ Cashman said of Hughes and Chamberlain.

Club president Randy Levine described the meetings as productive.

“Everybody had input and Cash was given a number to take to the Winter Meetings to execute a game plan with,’’ Levine said outside Steinbrenner Field. “We feel it’s a pretty definite budget but any business has to respond to circumstances.’’

While the Yankees can afford to wait because they have backup dollars, the winter of 2010 is different from a year ago.

“The market place isn’t as flush, we don’t have $100 million coming off the payroll, we don’t have as many needs as last year – right field, first base and three starters,’’ Cashman said. “This year there aren’t as many glaring needs but we aren’t a perfect beast either.’’

In addition to getting Pettitte back the Yankees need a left fielder and might be willing to go two years for about $20 million for Damon but not longer. And if Hughes and Chamberlain remain in the pen there is a need for another starter. If one is moved to the rotation a reliever (Rafael Soriano?) is required.

“Right now our bench is weak, left field is weak and we lost our DH, World Series MVP and No. 3 starter,’’ Cashman said. “There are areas of need.’’