Iwakuma 00740314

11/05/2007 11:08 AM ET
Mailbag: Will Pettitte come back in '08?
Beat reporter Bryan Hoch answers questions from fans


You and many others, I'm sure. Pettitte's declaration that he felt he needed to be "honorable" and return to the Yankees, if he does pitch at all, was welcome news around the Bronx -- especially after a few rough weeks that revolved around the managerial situation and Alex Rodriguez opting out of his contract.

Pettitte has until Wednesday to decide if he'll trigger a $16 million player option on his contract to return for 2008, but it's not a slam dunk that he will be back. As general manager Brian Cashman detailed last week, Pettitte was prepared for life in retirement before the Yankees put on a "full-court press" to bring him back for the 2007 season. Even after Pettitte agreed to return to New York, spurred on by his teammates' words at a reunion dinner of the '96 club, it took him a little while to get his competitive juices going again.

Players engaging in double-talk is more than a common occurrence these days, which is why it's refreshing when a person like Pettitte is able to say something and have it play as completely believable. When Pettitte shrugged in front of his locker late in the season and said that he honestly would not know about next season until he returned to Houston and discussed what he should do in his future "as a husband and as a father," it's difficult to imagine ulterior motives or negotiation tactics at play.

The Yankees have said that Wednesday isn't a hard deadline for Pettitte and that they'll negotiate with him past that point. Pettitte was the horse of the rotation in '07, and if he wants to pitch for at least another season, the Yankees can fire up the full-court press once more. They'd be happy to have him.

Is there any validity to the rumors that the Yankees are making, or will make a run at obtaining Johan Santana from the Twins?
-- Jason R., Salt Lake City, Utah

Expect to see plenty of newsprint devoted to this topic on cold winter days. Santana's disenchantment with the Twins was a pretty big story this season, as he questioned the team's commitment to winning. With general manager Terry Ryan leaving the organization, the tea leaves indicate a Santana deal could gain plausibility.

No matter who's running the show, the Twins know what kind of talent they have, though -- this is a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, after all. They aren't going to give him up for nothing, and could actually be a better team with him than without him, no matter what the return. For that reason, don't rule out the Twins finding the coin to at least offer an extension.

With Santana's current deal up after this season, the Twins could also begin the season with him and try to contend with the core they've got together. In the worst case scenario, they could start shopping Santana if July 31 approaches and they're not a power player -- that is, if some club doesn't batter down the Metrodome doors with a terrific offer this winter.

You can start concocting proposals on New York's behalf, but understand that Minnesota would have to take gold-level, front-line talent off of the depth charts to make this work. We don't have exact names, but you can guess the types players that could be involved in such a blockbuster trade. Would you be comfortable with watching the likes of Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Chien-Ming Wang, etc. develop in the AL Central?

That said, Santana's talent would stand tall in New York, and he seems to have the right type of personality to tackle the Bronx and all the attention that comes along with it. He'd be a great fit in Yankees pinstripes, but with him, you could say that about pretty much any other team as well.

What about a trade for Joe Crede to replace A-Rod? Sure, he is coming off back surgery, but his glove and clutch bat would be a great pickup.
-- David H., Brooklyn, N.Y.

That's one scenario the Yankees will have to mull with the General Managers Meetings kicking off this week in Orlando, Fla. The Yankees may not want to part with the types of prospects it would take them to land the Marlins' Miguel Cabrera or the Rockies' Garrett Atkins, making a player like Crede another option that could be on the table.

Many people wrote in this week asking about Atkins and Cabrera. The Yankees would need to do their due diligence and look into those players, but if and when they try, expect clubs to begin asking for prized talent the organization is on the cusp of seeing major returns from. Packages revolving around older, mediocre Major League talent and B-level prospects -- which were suggested by plenty -- won't be enough to get it done.

Crede, 29, is in an interesting situation because White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said his club may soon decide who their third baseman is for 2008 -- Crede or Josh Fields. If it's not Crede, he'll likely be moved somewhere, and he's only one season removed from hitting 30 homers. The free-agent pool, save for Mike Lowell, isn't wholly impressive at third base, and the Red Sox are going to push hard to bring the World Series MVP back.

If a package cannot be presented to get Cabrera from the Marlins, could you see a package including Wilson Betemit and some non-Ian Kennedy/Hughes talent -- like Jeff Karstens -- being compiled to bring Atkins from the Rockies?
-- John G., Gilbert, Ariz.

Not really. You've got to give to get, and the players you mentioned wouldn't be enough to get it done. That'd be really difficult for the Rockies to explain to their fan base coming off a World Series season. Kennedy or Hughes would be a good jumping-off point to begin putting a reasonable deal together.

I think a trade for Scott Rolen would be great. We need as much defense as possible. His offense is weaker than it used to be, but we have plenty of other big bats with the re-signing of Bobby Abreu.
-- Trent K., Atlanta, Ga.

The Cardinals might listen. Rolen has three years remaining on an eight-year, $90 million contract -- but he also has a full no-trade clause and has given little indication he'd ever want to play in New York. He also had season-ending left shoulder surgery after a mediocre season.

I understand A-Rod opting out takes away the money the Yankees were getting from the Rangers, and I know they said all along they won't try and re-sign him. But it's obvious he's the best player in baseball. Why are the Steinbrenners refusing to even meet with him after he opted out? A-Rod belongs on the Yankees, period, and he should stay there for his whole career.
-- Chelsea W., Linden, N.J.

If you believe their statements, the Yankees were willing to give A-Rod that opportunity, putting together a proposal that could have kept him in New York for the foreseeable future. They requested meetings with Rodriguez, but were turned down by his agent, Scott Boras.

Essentially, the Yankees had been firing warning shots for some time that if Rodriguez opted out, they would take that as an indication that he no longer wanted to play in New York, and they said very publicly that they would not pursue him if he did so. When he did opt out, the Yankees only left themselves one course of action to follow.

If they go back on that and try to sign A-Rod, it would be difficult for players or agents to take their word in the future.

How about using Andy Phillips at third? I'd hate to see Cano shift from second and Betemit didn't show much offensively last season with the Dodgers or Yankees. Doesn't he deserve a shot?
-- Kevin D., Syracuse, N.Y.

Phillips has had so much going on off the field in the last few years that, as a human being, you wish he could have that chance. He certainly deserves it in that sense. The more we see of Phillips, the more it seems he needs to play every day to be truly productive -- something he did for a short period this year at first base when Joe Torre finally started putting his name in there every day. As far as third base, he can fill in when necessary and did so for a handful of games in '07, but seems better suited to the right side of the diamond. He should head to Spring Training in consideration for time at first base.

Do you think that Joe Girardi will be the first player-manager since Pete Rose?
-- Justin F., New York, N.Y.

There may be days when Girardi looks to be in better shape than some of his players, but the days of player-managers -- as a whole -- seem to have gone the way of 8-track tapes. There's just so much preparation and so many statistical breakdowns that go into managing in the current game, the idea of being able to play and manage at the same time, especially in the New York fishbowl with all of its demands, seems antiquated.

Is Carl Pavano still a Yankee? Can't the Yankees cut players like Pavano, Jason Giambi and Kyle Farnsworth, who all have big contracts, but actually seem to clog up the playing time for the up-and-coming kids?
-- Alex G., St. Paul, Minn.

Yes, he is, but Pavano isn't blocking anyone's progress. He's out recovering from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery and probably won't pitch for the Yankees again -- if he does, it'd be late in 2008. As far as Giambi and Farnsworth, the big contracts and underwhelming performances are what make them unappealing to other clubs. But Giambi is more likely to be with the Yankees on Opening Day than Farnsworth, in my opinion.