Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte will announce his retirement at a press conference Friday morning at Yankee Stadium, ending a storied career and leaving a gaping hole in the 2011 team.
The 38-year-old left-hander ends his 16-year career with a record of 240-138 with a 3.88 ERA, and as the major-league record holder for postseason wins with a 19-10 record. Pettitte will forever be remembered in Yankees lore as a big-game pitcher and a fan favorite.
The tug of home had grown stronger in recent years for Pettitte, and he toyed with retirement in the past few winters. It appears this winter the desire to be with his family in Deer Park, Texas, surpassed his desire to pitch in the Bronx.
Pettitte called Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner on Wednesday to let him know he was retiring, then flew to New York on Thursday. The Yankees did not try to talk him out of retirement.
“He just doesn’t have the fire in the belly anymore,” a source familiar with Pettitte’s thinking said.
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Pettitte’s future cast a shadow over the Yankees the entire winter. His answer will have repercussions that could last into next fall.
Spring training begins for pitchers and catchers on Feb. 14, and the Yankees rotation currently consists of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes with a competition for the final two spots among a group of pitchers who are either unproven or years removed from their prime.
Pettitte’s decision coupled with the one top free agent pitcher Cliff Lee made in December to sign with the Phillies rather than the Yankees leaves manager Joe Girardi with a thin starting rotation.
Pettitte, a five-time World Series champion, becomes the first member of the famed Core Four to retire, leaving Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada as the only Yankees remaining from the dynasty years.
A 22nd-round draft pick in 1990, Pettitte made his debut in 1995. The following season, he went 21-8 and began writing his legacy with an unforgettable performance in a 1-0 win over the Braves in Game 5 of the World Series.
In Yankees history, only Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing (231) have more wins than Pettitte (203). He ranks second in strikeouts and starts, fourth in innings pitched and eighth in appearances.
The two negatives on Pettitte’s Yankees resume are his departure in 2003 to pitch for the Astros for three years, and his inclusion in the Mitchell Report in 2007, which exposed his use of human growth hormone.
Pettitte’s admitted HGH use will be part of the debate on whether he belongs in the Hall of Fame. His regular-season numbers are not overwhelming, but his postseason performances provide a strong argument. He’s made more starts and pitched more innings in the playoffs than anyone in baseball history. His 19 postseason wins are more than that of nine franchises.
“He is one of the best pitchers of all time,” said Johnny Damon, who played with Pettitte for three years. “He is a big reason I was able to get my second ring. He knew how to pitch.”
Last season, Pettitte went 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA and made the All-Star team for the third time. His season was marred by injuries, though. He spent two months on the disabled list with a strained left groin before returning in September. But groin and back issues nagged at him into the playoffs, where he made two starts, going 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA.
After the Yankees were eliminated in Texas, Pettitte talked about being unsure whether he wanted to pitch again in 2011.
The Yankees let Pettitte make his decision and never tried to coerce him into coming back. A source said the team never even made a formal contract offer because Pettitte made it clear that money would not influence his decision.