Now that the holidays are over and Andy Pettitte has had more than enough time to mull over his future, the Yankees expect to hear from him this week on whether or not he will return to pitch in 2011. According to a team official, Pettitte and his family just returned from a Hawaiian holiday vacation and the Yankees believe he will let them know his intentions in a matter of days, after which the team will decide upon its next course of action. "Starter, reliever, a bat, it depends on what's out there,'' the official said. '"But we gotta know what Andy is gonna do first.''
The official word has been that Pettitte, who will turn 39 on June 15, is "leaning toward retirement'' after 16 major-league seasons, all but three with the Yankees. He got off tot he best start of his career in 2010, 11-2 with a 2.38 ERA, but suffered a groin strain in July that cost him two months of the season. Attempts to reach Pettitte and his representatives have been unsuccessful but in clubhouse conversations throughout his long and painful rehabilitation, Pettitte gave off every indication of being ready to call it a career. This week, we may finally get the definitive answer.