Yanks expect Pettitte’s decision this week

A Yankees official told Wally Matthews that the team expects to hear from Andy Pettitte this week about whether or not the lefty will return for a 17th MLB season.

Pettitte, who turns 39 in mid-June, just returned from a Hawaiian vacation with his family and is expected to make an announcement within “a matter of days.” After the team gets wind of his intentions they can go about making moves to fill out the roster.

Mystery official:

"Starter, reliever, a bat, it depends on what’s out there. But we gotta know what Andy is gunna do first."

Pettitte got off to a hot start in 2010 but a groin injury in July derailed his season. He returned to make three starts before the playoffs, but kinda pitched like shit. However, he bounced back to have a great postseason even though he was pitching hurt.

Needless to say, the Yanks need him to return in 2011. They have CC and Philthy but beyond that there are just question marks with regards to the rotation. Will AJ bounce back from a dreadful 2010 campaign? Can Ivan Nova duplicate his solid 2010, which was a VERY small sample size, over a long season? Can Sergio Mitre play the role of a fifth starter? If SuperNova and/or the Tray of Meat can’t cut it can the team find a starter who can?

The answers to these questions and more when pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in just 42 more days!!!