Pettite Not Cheap Enough

Don't get too excited about Andy Pettite turning down the Yankees' 1-year, $10 million offer and start thinking that the Houston boy might start showing interest in pitching in his home state, say for the Rangers.

Unless he's willing to take even less from Texas, that is, and that doesn't seem likely.

Pettite was 14-14 with a 4.54 ERA last year while being paid $16 million by the Yanks. He's 36, loves the idea of being close to his family and would probably like ending his career in Texas, much like Nolan Ryan did. But with the Rangers and Tom Hicks choking the checkbook until it screams, they won't even come close to matching that $10 million offer.

Too bad. Pettite, despite his brush with the steroid scandal last year, would be a steadying influence on this Rangers' rotation, especially being left-handed and pitching in The Ballpark.

   -- JIM REEVES

Comments

[R L C]

Being from Tarrant county it is nice to see our paper get a little more serious about the Rangers. Do not quit, that's an order.