Yankees legend Andy Pettitte details new advisory role, thoughts on pitching staff
Andy Pettitte is arguably the greatest Yankees pitcher, winning five World Series with the team and holding many club records, so it makes sense that the organization would want him involved in some way and they found one.
The Yankees have hired Pettitte in an advisory role. That means fans shouldn’t expect the lefty wearing the pinstripes in the dugout or bullpen during games but as the 51-year-old explains, he’s just there to talk baseball with the players.
“I hope to be just a good sounding board for guys. I’ve been through all this," he said prior to Tuesday's game. "I know a lot of times for me, just having somebody to shoot stuff off of. Maybe a different perspective. These guys are doing a great job. I guess they like to have me around. I’m excited to be around."
Pettitte held an advisory role for general manager Brian Cashman in 2019 where he traveled a lot with the team’s minor league system. This time, Cashman wants him with the big league club.
According to Pettitte, discussions on this role have taken place for some time, but he’s not expected to be with the club on a full-time basis, at least not this season. The southpaw said he already has commitments -- he was retired, after all -- so he’ll be with the team as much as he can but he plans to be around next year.
“Whenever I can be here, they want me here,” he said.
Pettitte reiterated that his job is to just talk and “mingle” with both the pitchers and hitters. He admits the analytics are new to him, but he wants to impart what he learned during his 18-year career onto them.
“It’s more just being around the guys. Seems like they’re all excited that I’m around,” he said. “Since I’ve been through it right here where they are going through it, and been in their shoes, that’s been a good thing.”
With the Yankees looking to make a playoff push, their starting rotation will have to do a lot of the heavy lifting with the team’s recent offensive struggles without Aaron Judge. But for Pettitte, he likes what he sees out of New York’s staff.
“I see a really good staff. Nestor [Cortes] is on his way back. Carlos [Rodon] is Carlos. We know that when he gets right we know what he can do. He has three starts under his belt right now and you want immediate results and I know he wants them too but he’s working to get back in it,” Pettitte said. “[Luis Severino] looks great, Clarke [Schmidt], we got great arms. We have to get everyone healthy. I know having Nestor back will be great.”
At the top of that rotation is Gerrit Cole. The Yankees ace is in the midst of a Cy Young-caliber season with the Yanks. In 21 starts, the 32-year-old is 9-2 with a 2.78 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 129.1 innings pitched.
Cole will need to continue being that ace until reinforcements arrive in the form of Cortes or a trade deadline move, but Pettitte believes having Cole at the top puts the team in a good spot.
“For me, he’s the best pitcher in the league night in, night out,” he said. “When you have a guy like that leading the staff, you’re in a good spot.”
