Yanks re-sign Pettitte; Mets step up offer to Ollie

January 27, 12:03 AMNY Fantasy Sports ExaminerLee Forman

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AP Photo/Julie Jacobson

The Yankees have defeated the Mets in New York’s version of the ‘Arms Race’.  The Bombers have completed their rotation by re-signing 13-year veteran Andy Pettitte to a one year contract worth $5.5 million.  The deal is worth nearly half as much as the offer Pettitte turned down last month, but an additional $6.5 million in incentives could be attained.  While the Yanks have completed work on their starting staff, the Mets remain short one pitcher.

Pettitte helped his fantasy value by opting to re-sign with the Yanks as opposed to returning to the woeful Houston Astros.  Pettitte’s stuff is still decent (158 K’s) as the crafty lefty managed to post 14 wins.  There is little to suggest that Pettitte can’t come close to that total again this season.  The team spent good money on an offense that is expected to provide plenty of run support for its pitchers.  Even though Andy is getting up there in age, he still has managed to throw over 200 innings in each of the last 4 seasons.  Pettitte’s ratios won’t help you unless you have a staff compromised only of Colorado Rockie pitchers.  Make no mistake; Andy Pettitte is the best 5th starter in baseball.

The Yankees started revamping their rotation earlier this off-season by luring free agents C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett to the Bronx.  Cheing-Ming Wang is expected back at 100% from a foot injury sustained last June.  The wild card remains reliever turned starter, turned drunk driver, Joba Chamberlin.  If Joba’s stamina can improve, the team would have no reservations about keeping him in the rotation.  If Joba is deemed more effective in the pen, the team still has options in prospects Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy.

Across the newly named RFK Bridge, the Mets have reportedly raised the ante on free agent Oliver Perez.  It was obvious the initial 3 year $30 million deal was not going to get it done, so this comes as no surprise.  Perez remains the team’s top option on the market.  In the meantime, the Mets signed pitcher Freddy Garcia to a minor league deal.  Garcia enjoyed success in the AL with the Seattle Mariners early in the decade.  He will compete with Jon Niese and Tim Redding for the 5th spot in the rotation.