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The New York Yankees announced today they have signed left-handed pitcher Andy Pettitte to a one-year contract.

Pettitte, 37, was 14-8 with a 4.16 ERA in 32 starts with the Yankees in 2009 (194.2IP, 193H, 101R, 90ER, 76BB, 148K, 20HR), winning his fifth World Championship with the organization (also 1996, ‘98-2000). The Yankees were 21-11 in his starts.

He went 4-0 with a 3.52 ERA (30.2IP, 12ER) in five postseason starts with the Yankees in 2009, becoming the first pitcher ever to start and win all three clinching games in a single postseason (ALDS, ALCS and World Series). Along with David Wells (1998), became just the second Yankee to record four wins in a single postseason.  Pettitte is 18-9 with a 3.90 ERA in 40 career postseason starts, recording the most wins, starts and innings pitched among Major League pitchers all time in postseason play.  His six postseason clinching game wins are also the most all time.

Originally selected by the Yankees in the 22nd round of the 1990 First-Year Player Draft, Pettitte is 192-109 with a 4.02 ERA in 12 overall seasons with the club (1995-2003, 2007-09).  He ranks third in franchise history in wins, strikeouts (1,772) and games started (375), sixth in innings pitched (2406.2) and eighth in appearances (384).  According to the Elias Sports Bureau, his win total is the highest for any pitcher with his current club.

Twice named an American League All-Star (1996 and 2001), Pettitte owns a 229-135 career record with a 3.91 ERA. Among Major League pitchers since 1995 when he debuted, he has recorded the most wins, the second-most innings pitched (2926.1) and the seventh-most strikeouts (2,150). Pettitte has posted a winning percentage of .500-or-better and made at least 15 starts in each of his 15 Major League campaigns, matching Cy Young (15 seasons, 1890-1904) and Tom Seaver (15 seasons, 1967-81) for the longest such stretch to start a Major League career (credit: Elias).  In addition, Pettitte played for the Houston Astros from 2004-06, where he compiled a 37-26 record with a 3.38 ERA.  He is a two-time 20-game winner, notching 21 victories in 1996 and 2003.

In the last decade (2000-09), Pettitte led the Majors in wins (148), ranked ninth in games started (300) and 10th in strikeouts (1,441).  He ranks fourth among active left-handed pitchers with 229 career wins.