Yankees' Posada: Pettitte 'Has Made His Decision'
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- Yankees catcher Jorge Posada knows Andy Pettitte will likely stay retired this season. A man can dream, can't he?
Posada was asked Tuesday if he would be surprised by a return this season of the left-hander, who announced his retirement during the offseason.
"It wouldn't surprise me, Andy is a competitor. That's the one thing you miss," Posada said. "Hopefully, we will get a chance to see him."
After the remark made waves in the ultra fast-paced world of Twitter and Facebook, Posada clarified his statement.
"What I meant was that it would be nice to see him again," Posada said. "But he has made his decision."
Pettitte has said he will not play this year and said it was unlikely he will play again.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi doesn't expect Pettitte to pitch this year, but couldn't completely rule it out.
"Andy has always been pretty much true to what he says," Girardi said. "A man of his word, and he said he wasn't coming back. He didn't put out the possibility that he might come back the following year. He didn't rule that completely out, but he said multiple times that I don't plan on playing this year. But, there's only a few things in life that's guaranteed."
Posada, entering the final season of a $52.4 million, four-year contract, is being shifted to designated hitter but also could see limited action at catcher. The 39-year Posada said Tuesday he'll assess his physical condition before deciding whether to come back in 2012.
If he returns, he'd like to stay with the Yankees.
"It would be really tough to look somewhere else," Posada said. "If I want to play, I want to stay here."
Will Pettitte make a return in 2011? 2012? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
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