Yankees desperate for Pettitte's return

After Cliff Lee jilted them for the Phillies and the free agent market remaining devoid of truly desirable pitching talent, is it any wonder that team president Randy Levine gets nightly visits from the ghost of Andy Pettitte’s future?

“I go to sleep every night hoping that Andy Pettitte makes his decision to come back and pitch another year,” Levine told 1050 ESPN New York Wednesday.

The 38-year-old Pettitte, his monetary value now sky-high, is basically the Yanks’ only viable left-handed option behind ace CC Sabathia. The current rotation sports Sabathia, Phil Hughes, a downhill-sliding A.J. Burnett, and wildcards Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre.

Brian Cashman has said he believes Pettitte is leaning toward retirement.

“Let’s just hope he wakes up one day in the next couple of weeks and says, ‘I want to pitch for the New York Yankees,’” Levine told 1050 ESPN New York Wednesday.