Joe Torre Says Reunion with Pettitte is Unlikely

By JOSH ALPER

Updated 4:18 PM EST, Thu, Dec 4, 2008

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It's looking like the only way Andy Pettitte will get to Hollywood is if he writes a wacky sitcom called "Houston Hijinx" about two friends from Texas who share pitching secrets, a personal trainer and human growth hormone. Dodgers manager Joe Torre told Newsday's Ken Davidoff that he and Pettitte have spoken to one another after Pettitte's agents called Ned Colletti, the Dodgers GM, but that a reunion seemed like a longshot.

"I don't think that's going to happen," Torre said Thursday, in a telephone interview.

Torre said it was his impression that Pettitte wanted to remain with the Yankees. Even though they passed up a chance to offer the lefty arbitration, the Yankees seem open to that as well. Their only requirement would be that Pettitte accept a pay cut from $16 million to $10 million. According to Thursday's New York Times, his agents, the Hendricks brothers, are working hard to make sure he doesn't have to suffer such indignity.

That's pretty ballsy of Pettitte. After the way Pettitte closed the 2008 season, he's lucky the Yankees want him back at any price. Pettitte posted a 5.35 earned run average in the second half of the season while his walk rate exploded. In a rotation that needed quality and stability, Pettitte provided neither in a thoroughly average season.

When Mike Mussina became a free agent in 2006, he also wanted to remain with the Yankees. He was coming off a much better season than Pettitte's 2008, at roughly the same age, and accepted a two-year, $23 million contract from the Yankees. The Yankees would be insane to let some sense of history guide them toward a higher offer for Pettitte. If Pettitte's serious about wanting to keep playing, he's the insane one for listening to agents telling him that $16 million is his market value.