Following a rough end to the season that saw the team swept by the Detroit Tigers in the playoffs, the New York Yankees are looking to strengthen their pitching in the offseason.
The team is hoping to bring back closer Mariano Rivera, who is returning from a serious knee injury, as well as veteran-starting pitcher Andy Pettitte, who came out of retirement last season to pitch for the team.
When the season ended, Pettitte said he would take some time to decide on a return, but hasn't made anything official yet. According to the NY Daily News, a source said that Pettitte has been working out "to see how his body will react" and will make his decision "soon."
Following those reports, ESPN's Buster Olney said that Pettitte is nearing a return with a "one-year deal worth near $11 million."
The addition of Pettitte officially would give the Yankees a solid front-end of the rotation. The team already has C.C. Sabathia as its ace and No. 1 starter and just re-signed pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year, $15 million deal.
Jon Heyman of SI.com said on Twitter that Pettitte would decide on returning "by the end of the week."
Last season Pettitte returned after a one-year absence on a $2.5 million deal and was stellar for the Yankees, starting 12 games and finishing 5-4 with a 2.87 ERA and 69 strikeouts. He missed two months of the season on the disabled list after suffering a fractured ankle when he was hit with a grounder on the mound.
He returned to the team in September and pitched five scoreless innings against the Toronto Blue Jays. Pettitte also pitched for the Yankees in the playoffs, going 0-1 while starting two games with a 3.29 ERA and 10 strikeouts.
Following the playoffs, Pettitte said to the Daily News: "There's no doubt I still have the desire to compete. For me, it's the family situation; that's just the biggest thing. I'm going to try to figure that out. It's a long season. What better job to have, to play baseball, you know? But at certain times, it gets tough when the family can't be together."
Pettitte also said that he would consider his family while making his final choice on returning for the 2013 season.
"I've got one that's going to be going off to college, and I know that there's a certain extent he wants me to be there to see some of that," Pettitte said to the Daily News last month. "Anybody that's a parent knows what it is. It's something we'll have to figure out."
Pettitte is one of the most accomplished pitchers in Yankees history and is the active leader in the MLB in wins, with 245, as well as all-time playoff wins with 19 in his career.
On the bullpen side of things, the Yankees are also moving towards a new deal with closer Mariano Rivera.
According to an official who spoke to ESPNNewYork.com, the team is "hopeful" about an agreement with Rivera that could get done before the winter meetings get started next week.
The almost 43-year-old closer (his birthday is Thursday), was lost for the season in May after suffering torn knee ligaments while working out before a game against the Kansas City Royals. Before he was hurt, he had five saves, eight strikeouts and an ERA of 2.16.
Rafael Soriano took over the closer role for Rivera and was excellent all season putting up 42 saves in 46 chances with a 2.26 ERA and 69 strikeouts.
Soriano was signed to a three-year, three-year, $35 million contract, but opted out following the playoffs to become a free agent and is asking for more money than the Yankees are willing to spend.
Following his injury in May, Rivera said that he would definitely be returning,
"I'm coming back," an emotional Rivera said in Kansas City a day after the injury, according to ESPNNewYork.com. "Put it down. Write it down in big letters. I ain't going down like this."
There were reports last month that Rivera wasn't sure what he would do and that he was leaning towards retirement, but those were put to rest by the closer himself in early November. Rivera spoke to general manager Brian Cashman and set the wheels in motion to come back to the team.
According to ESPNNewYork.com, "He wants to play again," said Cashman at the time. "I'll work with his agent, Fernando Cuza, on the details of a contract."
Rivera is considered to be the greatest closer of all-time and has earned 608 saves in the regular season, as well as an MLB-best 42 in his playoff career. He has a career 2.21 ERA and has gone 76-58 in 18 seasons.
He has earned 12 All-Star appearances, won five World Series championships and led the American League in saves three times in his career.
