Thanks to, I'm guessing, equal parts boredom and the $2.5 million the Yankees are handing over, Andy Pettitte is coming back to baseball.
Pettitte, who retired before last season, has signed a one-year minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, the team said. The deal is worth $2.5 million, baseball sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.
Good for him, and the Yankees. Andy coming back to New York doesn't strike any fear in me. He was solid in 2010, his last year in the bigs, winning 11 games and posting a 3.28 ERA over 21 contests. If he can produce at that level, I may become a little concerned. We'll see soon enough whether he has any life left in that arm. But with the new playoff format rules, we simply don't need to sweat moves like this as much as we used to.
Boston is just as capable to win the East as New York is; with or without 39 year old lefty, who may or may not still be able to throw a baseball. And if we don't, we can fight Tampa (or someone else) for that last spot.
For kicks the Red Sox should sign Pedro to a minor league deal. It could be like 2000 all over again.
