Pettitte joins Cashman's front-office staff

TAMPA, Fla. -- Andy Pettitte earned a place in Monument Park with splendid consistency and a fierce competitive streak that raised his performance when the stakes were at their highest. The Yankees hope that he will be able to pass those attributes on to their next generation of stars.

Pettitte gained an official title with the organization on Monday, as he was named a special advisor to general manager Brian Cashman. The left-hander, who won 256 games in his 18-year career, will take on the challenge of helping at both the Major and Minor League levels.

"Whatever the organization feels like they need or that I could help at, that's what I would like to do," Pettitte said. "It's as laid back as could possibly be. There's really not a whole lot of exact job description. Cash knows how I'll handle myself. I'll help out any way I possibly can."

Pettitte joins a star-studded stable of special advisors, one that has swelled in recent seasons. Earlier this year, the Yankees hired Carlos Beltran, adding the switch-hitting former slugger to a group that also features Reggie Jackson, Hideki Matsui, Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher.

"Andy will help coach both the physical and mental side of being a champion and pitching in New York with all of our talent," Cashman said. "I've always told Andy Pettitte, 'I'll take as much Andy as I can get.' He's been a special one from start to finish, and he remains special."

Pettitte will continue to spend most of his time in Texas, where he is the pitching coach for Second Baptist School in Houston. Former big league slugger Lance Berkman serves as the head baseball coach.

"We'll see how it goes. I said I'd never be interested in coaching and I'm a high school coach," Pettitte said, with a laugh.

Pettitte said that he was recently approached by Marlins chief operating officer Derek Jeter about a similar role. Jeter brought Jorge Posada on board as a special advisor earlier this month, but Pettitte said that he opted to keep his pinstripes.

"Obviously that would be something fun you could consider, a couple of my buddies over there doing that," Pettitte said. "This is something that has been in the works for five years since I retired. Hal [Steinbrenner] and Cash and the organization have been so great to me."

Pettitte said that he could be asked to help the Yankees recruit future free agents, or to speak with players on the current roster, which he believes has the capability of raising a 28th World Series banner in the Bronx.

"I thought they had a chance to go all the way last year with the club that they had," Pettitte said. "They've definitely added to the starting rotation, which is not going to do anything but help. I think they'll be right there, just like they have been. Hopefully this is the year we'll get over the hump, get back to the Series and be able to win another one."