Report: Pettitte not retiring, will pitch for Yankees

Andy Pettitte, who had considered retirement after the 2007 season ended, will return in 2008 to pitch for the New York Yankees, the Houston Chronicle reported on Monday.

Pettitte

According to the report, his agent, Randy Hendricks, said he has advised the Yankees that Pettitte will come back.

"Many teammates have called urging Andy to return as well as manager Joe Girardi," Hendricks said, according to the report. "It's well known that the Yankees have publicly stated that they were ready for Andy when Andy was ready."

The Chronicle reported that it earlier learned from friends, former Houston Astros teammates and some current Yankees teammates that the left-hander would return.

Pettitte pitched for the Yankees last season on a one-year, $16 million contract. He earlier declined a $16 million player option for 2008, but the Yankees have offered him salary arbitration.

Pettitte has a 201-113 career record with a 3.83 ERA over 13 seasons with the Yankees and Astros. He went 15-9 with a 4.05 ERA in 36 starts in 2007.

Source: ESPN.com