Yankees News

Install the Yankees as the favorite to land Roger Clemens when the Hall of Fame hurler decides to resume pitching. With golf partner and close friend Andy Pettitte officially returning to The Bronx, the Yankees will be appealing to Clemens, who Pettitte predicted will surface at some point in the 2008 season. Speaking on a conference call yesterday from Houston, Pettitte said he believes Clemens will pitch in 2007 even though Pettitte said Clemens hasn't told him what his decision will be. "I would have to imagine he is going to play," said Pettitte. ... When Clemens, who will be 45 in August, decides to pitch again, it will likely be for the second half of the season, as he did last year, and be a three-horse race with the Yankees, Red Sox and Astros entered. However, the Yankees employ his closest friend in baseball, always make the postseason and may allow Clemens to get home to Houston when his schedule dictates.

Shea Hillenbrand said he was told the Yankees are not interested in signing him to play first base because of concerns about his defense. "It just baffles me that organizations have that perspective on me," said Hillenbrand, who denied he was holding out for a multiyear deal. The Yankees also seemed to have cooled on signing Mark Loretta to play first base, so they may be zeroing in on Doug Mientkiewicz.

Brian Cashman said he hasn't had contact with Bernie Williams or agent Scott Boras recently. As currently constructed, the Yankees don't have a spot for the Yankee icon to return to.

An industry source close to the Pirates said that a three-team trade involving the Yankees and Braves -- one that would have sent Mike Gonzalez to New York, Adam LaRoche to Pittsburgh and Melky Cabrera to Atlanta -- was "pretty much a done deal" until last weekend. But he added, "I don't know what happened from there." No officials with the Pirates or Braves have acknowledged any three-team talks, publicly or privately. The Boston Red Sox have maintained interest in Gonzalez, but they have no good match for a power hitter and, thus, little chance of getting him.

Andy Pettitte's deal calls for a $16 million salary in 2007 and a player option at $16 million for 2008. Pettitte, 34, said he wanted the player option because he doesn't want to face the "nightmare" of free agency again nor feel obligated to pitch in 2008. He wanted to have a choice after next season: retire because he physically cannot pitch anymore or play one more year. Pettitte could exercise the option even if injured, but he has said he would not do that. "It's not something you would enter easily," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said of the player option. "But there's a lot of trust with Andy."