Talk about perfect timing.

Andy Pettitte put a potential wrench in the Johan Santana sweepstakes by agreeing to return to the Bronx for one more season. The deal is for $16 million -- the same $16 million Pettitte would have received if he would have exercised his option about a month ago.

The resigning may give the Yanks some added leverage in the Santana negotiations. As it stands now, the Bombers would be heading into 2008 with a starting rotation of Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and either Ian Kennedy or Mike Mussina (like it or not it would most likely be Mussina).

Now, Minnesota -- the tables have turned!

Hank Steinbrenner has already issued a deadline for the Twins to decide whether or not they want to make the deal for Hughes, Melky Cabrera and a minor leaguer.  Now I think he should go one step further and lowball them.  Pull Hughes' name from the negotiations and tell Minnesota to take a package that includes Kennedy instead of Hughes.  It probably won't get Santana in pinstripes, but with Pettitte's return the Yankees are no longer desperate for another established pitcher heading into 2008.

Brian made a great point in his earlier post about the Yankees starting rotation at the start of last season.  A winning hand it was not.  Here's a refresher if you've forgotten how the Bombers broke camp in 2007: Carl Pavano, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Kei Igawa and Darrell Rasner.  Obviously, Wang started the season on the DL, but you get the gist.  Pettitte and Wang were the only starters that kept their spot in the rotation last season and the Yanks still won 94 games.  Again it's not how you start, but how you finish.

Still, I'll take my chances with the Yankees projected starting five in 2008.

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