First C.C., then Peavy, now Pettitte

For most of the last half of the 2008 season, fans salivated over the thought of luring C.C. Sabathia as a free agent. Then the price hit 6 years and $120 million and then some.

Then as C.C. mania became somewhat subdued, the Padres said they could be persuaded to give up Jake Peavy. As those rumors continue to swirl, there doesn’t seem to be a leading suitor, although if you listen to Padres GM Kevin Towers he’s talking to several teams and has included the Yankees and Angels.

Now, it’s Andy Pettitte’s turn at the Astros’ window.

Would Ed Wade dare walk down that trail? Is he worth the risk of a two-year deal? Could Drayton and Tal Smith swallow their pride from the last time Andy walked away?

The Yankees are offering one year, $10 million. Should the Astros offer more? Maybe two years, $24 or $25 million?

Would you rather have C.C. at six years, $120+ million, Jake Peavy at five years, $85 million or Pettitte at two years, $25 million?

The Yanks apparently want to wait and see if Mike Mussina is coming back. And if they get Moose, Andy may be out. Is Andy playing second fiddle again?

How ironic, but didn’t Pettitte feel like the odd man out when the Astros were pursuing Jon Garland a couple of years ago?

Yes, Pettitte would probably cost the Astros a couple of draft picks, but a reasonable two-year deal might be just what the doctor ordered. Especially if Randy Wolf and his Type B tag leaves and returns one of those picks. Then again, if you want to spend $25 million on two years, why not add a year and another $5-6 million and see if you could attract Ben Sheets?

So should the Astros flirt with Andy? If they did, the rotation could look like this:

Oswalt, Pettitte, Hampton, Wandy, Moehler.

Better yet, how ’bout Oswalt, Wolf, Pettitte, Wandy, Moehler.

Well, and since we’re just talking and everyone wants to go for broke in ’09, whatcha think about Oswalt, Peavy, Pettitte, Wandy, Moehler.

Yep, talk is cheap and there’s lots of it going around. I’m ready for a little action, so somebody please pull the trigger!