Andy Pettitte taking arbitration is no light step, even as the wire report plays it up as a formality.
As this blog has mentioned at least once, the Yankees were foolish to trust Roger Clemens to retire after 2003, and they did not offer arbitration. Of course, Clemens never filed retirement papers, signed with Houston, and quite possibly cost the Yankees a championship by stealing Pettitte away as well.
So kudos to the Yankees for being respectful, giving Andy and his family time to decide, but also covering their asses.
$16 million may be a little much for even a 15-9, 4.05 ERA guy, but he and his innings are probably worth it. He's for sure more valuable at a one-year deal than are all these journeymen at $10-12 million.
I am happy too that Pettite is returning. He is not quite the pitcher he was five-seven years ago but he still is reliable. He gets you innings and lately thats been pretty difficult for Yankees pitchers. I also understand being patient with him. Unlike Clemens, Pettite is a true family man and when he says he needs time to contemplate his future with his family he really means it. I think thats where they messed up first time around. They thought he was a business man and would only care about money but Cashman and the rest of the front office learned quickly when he rejected their offer.