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Updated Feb 3, 2011 5:33 PM ET
The Yankees have not had very good luck with free-agent left-handers this offseason.
First, Cliff Lee spurned them for the Phillies. Now, Andy Pettitte is ending his 16-year career.
Pettitte, 38, will announce his retirement at a news conference Friday at Yankee Stadium. The news conference is set for 10:30 am. ET.
The absence of Pettitte will leave the team with a rotation headed by left-hander CC Sabathia and right-handers A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes.
Righties Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre are candidates for the other two spots, as are two veterans who recently signed minor league contracts, Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon.
Pettitte, 240-138 lifetime with a 3.88 ERA, wrestled the entire offseason with his decision. He has spoken often of wanting to spend more time with his family.
Pettitte played the first nine and the last four of his 16 seasons with the Yankees. He was with the Houston Astros from 2004 to '06. He was an All-Star three times — including last season — and finished in the top five in Cy Young Award voting four times.
The Yankees won five championships while Pettitte was on the roster, and he won one game in each of those World Series. His 19 career postseason wins are the most ever in the major leagues.
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