Andy Pettitte hopes to be a ‘sounding board’ in new Yankees advisory role
Only a few days into his new advisory role with the Yankees, Andy Pettitte is already talking shop.
The former southpaw, who spent 15 years with the Yankees over multiple stints, spent part of his Tuesday afternoon watching Gerrit Cole throw a bullpen at Yankee Stadium. The two proceeded to have a conversation about grips before Pettitte reintroduced himself to reporters and threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Yankees’ loss to the Mets.
“I hope I could be just a good sounding board for some guys,” Pettitte said. “I’ve been through all this, walked through it. I know a lot of times, for me, when I think of just having somebody to just shoot some stuff off of, right? And just maybe a different perspective.”
Pettitte’s perspective includes five World Series rings, three All-Star selections and an ALCS MVP award over a career that spanned 18 years. The Yankees drafted Pettitte in the 22nd round in 1990, and he began his career in New York five years later. Pettitte remained in the Bronx util 2004, when the Texas resident joined the Astros.
Pettitte spent three seasons in Houston before returning to the Yankees in 2007. He finished his career in New York after the 2013 season.
“He walks in with a lot of credibility and credentials, but also the humility that he’s just easy to approach,” Aaron Boone said. “The staff loves him, players love him, and he has a lot to offer. More than just being this great player that’s around. He’s obviously that, but he’s really good at impacting people.”
Pettitte previously advised the Yankees in a traveling minor league role prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Boone said that he never wanted Pettitte to leave, but the latter said that obligations back home, such as coaching his sons, kept him from serving the Yankees in an official capacity.
Pettitte’s youngest son, Luke, recently graduated from high school, making this the perfect time for the 51-year-old to come back after maintaining contact with Boone and Brian Cashman.
“I guess they like to have me around,” Pettitte said, “and I’m excited to be around.”
Pettitte, who won’t be in uniform during games, didn’t outline specific job duties when asked what he’ll be doing. He said that his primary responsibilities are “just to be here” as much as possible and to “mingle with the guys.” Some preexisting plans will keep him from being a daily presence, but he plans on traveling with the team and being in New York whenever he can be.
“Right now, I would just say I’m trying to get to know a lot of the guys,” Pettitte said. “It’s a new club to me because I just haven’t been around in a while, especially up here with the big league guys. I’ve been in contact with a lot of them, but not all of them. And so for me, this first week has just been trying to get comfortable with everybody, and it’s been awesome.
“Whenever I can be here, they want me here. That’s what they told me.”
Pettitte, who served as Team USA’s pitching coach during the World Baseball Classic but doesn’t see himself working that job for an MLB team, also noted that he doesn’t have much experience with analytics. The Yankees have not told Pettitte that he needs to learn that aspect of the modern game, but he said he’d like to since it’s such a big part of how teams operate.
Pettitte has plenty of time to learn, as his deal will keep him around next year as well. He’ll be able to plan his 2024 availability better, he said, after his contract came together quickly over the last few weeks.
In the meantime, he’s easing back into life with the Yankees.
“I won’t lie to y’all,” Pettitte said. “I’ve been retired and I have been coaching baseball and been fully involved in that, so trying to catch up on watching video of everybody, watching their games. I wasn’t locked into the games like I will be now, obviously, and stuff like that. So just kind of filtering through all that.”
