Pettitte Is On The Clock

The rumors have been swirling ever since the final out of the 2010 ALCS, and now it's time for the Yankees to get the final answer to the "Million Dollar Question": Will Andy Pettitte pitch in 2011?

Wallace Matthews from ESPNNewYork.com says that Yankees management are expecting a final decision from the 39-year-old lefty sometime this week. One team official told Matthews that the 2010 All-Star was on vacation with his family for the holidays, but has since returned home to Houston.

After 16 seasons of wear and tear on his body, the winds of retirement have been swirling ever since the final out of the ALCS against the Rangers. The rumors intensified last week, when news broke about Mark Teixeira telling reporters about text messages he has exchanged with Pettitte about his potential retirement.

Despite getting off to a hot 11-2 start in 2010, Pettitte suffered a groin injury in mid-July that landed him on the disabled list for 2 months. But even though Pettitte is creeping closer and closer to that dreaded age of 40, Yankee fans better hope and pray that the future Hall of Famer decides to return for the 2011 season. If he doesn't, it could be a long summer of despair in the Bronx.