Pitchers and catchers began reporting to spring training today, but, for the Yankees, there are still unresolved issues:
TAMPA, Fla. - The Yankees have all kinds of questions about their starting rotation as they wait for pitchers and catchers to report to spring training today. Concerns about Andy Pettitte may dominate their thoughts, but the first issue to be tackled is today’s scheduled arbitration hearing with Chien-Ming Wang.
Barring a last-minute breakthrough in negotiations, the Yankees will go to arbitration with a player for the first time since Mariano Rivera in 2000. Wang’s agent, Alan Nero, said last night that there had been no recent conversations with the Yankees and that he still expects to go to arbitration. General manager Brian Cashman also said that a hearing was still on the docket for today.
Many people expected the two sides to reach an agreement on a contract for 2008, given that there was only $600,000 difference between them. Wang, who has won 38 games in the past two seasons, requested $4.6 million. The Yankees countered with a $4-million offer. The hearing is to be at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Fla.
And then there’s Andy Pettitte, who won’t report until Monday:
TAMPA, Fla. — One of the most pressing issues surrounding Wednesday’s congressional hearing in Washington was the absence of Andy Pettitte. One of the most pressing issues surrounding Yankees camp at Legends Field on Thursday will be exactly the same.
The Yankees have given Pettitte permission to report to Spring Training on Monday, according to general manager Brian Cashman. That’s four days after Pettitte was originally due to report to Legends Field, along with all other pitchers and catchers.
“I know what he’s going through right now is not an easy situation,” Cashman said. “It can become a distraction if you let it. So we’ll do everything we can to help get him on line as soon as possible, and prepare him in the proper way, and get him back to the basics of baseball. But that won’t start here until Monday at the latest.”
The open question is how the fans are going to react to Pettitte when the season starts up in April.
