What Was The Point, Andy?

So in the end, why’d Andy Pettitte feel the need to make the Yankees and their fans sweat out his inevitable return?

In today’s phone interview with the media, Pettitte said several times that he considered the Yanks as the ONLY place he’d play and that returning to Houston (or going anywhere else) was never an option.

And with the news that Pettitte agreed to a contract worth $5 million guaranteed as opposed to the original $10 million offered after the season, we ask, “what was the point, Andy?”

The only reason I can see is that if Andy meets all of his bonuses and incentives he’ll earn $12 million total…$2 million more than that original $10 mil (I got an A in 2nd grade math!).

If that’s the case, then was it really worth it? Pettitte’s (already battered) image took a hit during the entire process. It is generally accepted (by everyone BUT Andy) that he is no longer the type of pitcher that commands the $16 million (!) he wanted from the Yanks at first. But for some reason Andy held out.

And held out. And held out!

And he accepted a heck of a lot less.

Yankee fans’ relationship with Pettitte is an interesting one. He was an unquestioned Yankee icon until the HGH scandal. After that, it took a while but it seemed fans welcomed Andy back….and then this.

Why’d Andy let it get to this point? Like the guy from the old Tootsie Pop commercials used to say, “the world may never know.”

Oh well. Anyway you slice it he’s back. And most likely at a discount. Yankee fans should be happy about that. Plus with Pettitte in the fold that rotation looks amazing.

I just wish we could have taken care of this a lot earlier.

Matt Estreich for The Huddle