NEW YORK (AP) — Andy Pettitte will announce his retirement Friday morning at a Yankee Stadium news conference. A five-time World Series champion, Pettitte had been telling the Yankees since the end of the season that it was likely he wouldn't play in 2011. He became a free agent and has not attempted to negotiate a contract.
The 38-year-old left-hander is 240-138 with a 3.88 ERA n 16 major league seasons. He excelled in the postseason, setting a major league record for wins by going 19-10 with a 3.83 ERA.
Pettitte's departure leaving a huge hole in the Yankees' rotation, with no proven starters behind CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett.
Having failed to sign free agent Cliff Lee, New York has agreed to minor league contracts with Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia in recent weeks, trying to find more options for a fourth and fifth starter in addition to youngster Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre.
Pettitte spent 13 seasons with the Yankees, interrupting his career in New York to play for his hometown Houston Astros from 2004-06. He was a three-time All-Star, earning the honor in 1996, 2001 and last year, and was a 20-game winner in 1996 and 2003 when he twice went 21-8.
He was 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA in 21 starts last season. His season was limited by a strained left groin that caused him to go on the disabled list from July 19 to Sept. 19.
Pettitte had said that he increasingly felt the tug to return to Texas and his family. Once the school year ended, his family traveled to New York where they could be together during homestands, but the distance from his loved ones now has trumped whatever desire he had to climb higher in the Yankees record book.
Pettitte's 203 wins with the Yankees are the third-most in franchise history, trailing only Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing (231).
He is expected to be a witness this summer at the trial of former teammate Roger Clemens, indicted on charges he lied to a congressional committee when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
Pettitte admitted using human growth hormone and said Clemens told him he had used HGH. Clemens testified Pettitte didn't remember the conversation correctly.
