Nice Work, Andy!

by Phyllis

You may be aware that I wrote recently (don't split verb phrases, you know) about Andy Pettitte and his rejection of a one year, $10 million offer from the New York Yankees. I wondered how it was that a man could do that. And I didn't get into many numbers, but now I will. Because Andy Pettitte, people, has earned over $100 million dollars in his career, and his salary last season was $16 million. So this is what he had to say about the pay cut he was offered:

"Heck, the bottom line is I'm a man, and I guess it does take a shot at your pride a little bit."

Yeah, Andy, I get you. Totally. Those cheap bastards! How dare they make you feel like less of a man! How dare they chip at your self esteem like that! Make them pay for it. Surely there are some other teams out there lining up for your services. Drive the price up by flirting with them, and then come back to the Yankees and cash in!

On a related note, I read in an article today that Andy Pettitte signed a one year deal with the New York Yankees. One year, $5.5 million. There are bonus clauses in his contract, so if he doesn't get injured, pitches enough innings, and isn't lousy enough for them to give up on him, he can earn another $6.5 million.

Hmmm. Turns out there weren't other teams interested. Pettitte on the contract talks: "It just got to the point where Randy [his agent] called me and said, 'I think this is it, buddy.' It didn't take me long to decide because I knew that was where I was going to play."

Well played, Andy. Really. Great maneuvering.

And seriously, Andy, good luck this year. Break a leg!

Wait, no, don't do that. If you do, you'll only earn $5.5 million, and I don't know if you could feel like a man earning that.