Yanks ‘cautiously optimistic’ Pettitte will return

The “Will He or Won’t He?” saga concerning Andy Pettitte’s future in the Bronx may be drawing to a conclusion. Jon Heyman reported this afternoon that the Yanks expect Pettitte to decide “within days” if he’d like to return for one final season in uniform. The club, he says, is “cautiously optimistic.” Pettitte’s return would certainly soften the blow of losing out on the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, but it’s probably foolhardy to pencil Pettitte in for 33 starts next year. His body has had trouble handling the rigors of a 162-game schedule, and he doesn’t heal as quickly as he used to. Still, Pettitte’s return woud be a welcome one.