Andy Pettitte

At press time, Pettitte's annual debate over whether to return for another season was still unresolved, but he seemed to be leaning more strongly toward retirement than he ever had previously. Last season's injury woes, including a groin injury that shelved him for two months, probably weighed heavily on his mind, and he'll turn 39 during the 2011 season. When healthy, however, the crafty southpaw can still be quite effective, as last year's 3.28 ERA and 7.0 K/9IP indicate.

Pettitte decided to return to the Yankees for 2010 with another one-year deal in December after clinching his fourth World Series title. He proved he could still be sturdy and productive even at age 37, posting a 4.16 ERA in 32 starts and going 4-0 with a 25:11 K:BB ratio in the playoffs. He�ll hurt you with a poor WHIP, but should be a safe bet for double-digit wins and 140-150 strikeouts.

Pettitte surpassed the 200-inning mark for the fourth straight season, but his productivity fell off after the All-Star break as he finished the year 4-7 with a 5.35 ERA and 1.53 WHIP (.302 BAA) in his final 13 starts. At press time, the Yankees were looking to further bolster their rotation through free agency after inking CC Sabathia to a seven-year deal, so Pettitte's future in the Bronx appeared cloudy and a potential reunion with Joe Torre in Los Angeles looked like a reasonable outcome. A move back to the National League would definitely help his overall numbers, but Pettitte has become much more hittable over the last three seasons. If he heads west to L.A. or even Houston, double-digit wins and a healthy number of strikeouts (150-160) are still well within reach if you can stomach the WHIP.

Pettitte turned in another strong season as a 35-year-old in 2007, going 15-9 with a 4.05 ERA and a 141:69 K:BB ratio. He announced in December that he would return for at least one more season as a Yankees, just a couple of weeks before his name was linked to the use of HGH to aid in recovery from an elbow injury in 2002 as part of Senator George Mitchell's report. Pettitte later confirmed the allegations and as of press time wasn't facing any disciplinary action from commissioner Bud Selig, while it's highly unlikely that he'd miss more than a three or four starts if a suspension were to come down. Don't be afraid to pounce on him at the draft table if other owners are scared away by his presence on Mitchell's report.

Pettitte struggled at the beginning of the season, going 7-9 with a 5.28 ERA before the All-Star break. He rebounded in the second half of the season, posing a record of 7-4 with a 2.80 ERA and struck out nearly as many batters (86, 92) with 16 less walks (27, 43) in four less starts. He can still dominate both sides of the plate. Back in New York, he projects as the No. 3 behind Mike Mussina and Chien-Ming Wang.

Healthy again, Pettitte had the best year of his career at age 33, largely on the heels of his best command (4.17 K/BB). Expecting a repeat may be a lot, especially given the persistent concerns about his elbow, but with Pettitte, you won't get burned. He'll either be effective or on the DL. Little chance of a blowup here.

Two separate injuries ruined much of Pettitte's 2004 season. A forearm injury sidelined Pettitte in late June, while a more serious elbow injury ended his season in August. With Roger Clemens potentially retiring, Pettitte will need to step up and see success as the No. 2 starter in Houston behind Roy Oswalt. If healthy, he could rebound and be undervalued in many leagues.

Pettitte shocked nearly everyone by accepting the Astros' significantly cheaper offer to pitch for his hometown team, over accepting the Yankees' offer. He'll have to deal with a ballpark which is much less pitcher-friendly for left-handed starters, and clearly will have less run-support as well. Nonetheless, he's still signing with a relative potent offensive club, so his run support won't dissolve completely. The other nagging concern is his balky elbow, which acted up in the beginning of the 2003 season.

The only pitcher in major league history to win 12 or more games in each of his first seven major league seasons, Pettitte missed time with an elbow problem and a sore back in 2002, but put together his best season since 1997. As a result, the Yankees picked up his hefty $11.5 million option for 2003. With the Yankees offense behind him once again, we expect Pettitte to extend his 12-win record to eight, but with an ERA closer to his career mark of 3.93.