Pettitte set to retire

NEW YORK - Andy Pettitte is going ahead with his decision to retire, leaving the New York Yankees with two huge holes in what appears to be a rather wobbly starting rotation.

The team scheduled a news conference this morning at Yankee Stadium for Pettitte to announce the choice he had been leaning toward since the end of last season.

"I don't think enough people know that he's still the leader of this pitching staff until today," former Yankees right fielder Paul O'Neill said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

A five-time World Series champion and the third- winningest pitcher in team history, Pettitte became a free agent after the World Series. The 38-year-old left-hander has not attempted to negotiate a contract.

New York has no proven starters behind CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett, who struggled during the second half of last season.

Having failed to sign free agent Cliff Lee, New York has agreed to minor league contracts with Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia in recent weeks, trying to find more options for a fourth and fifth starter in addition to youngster Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre. The Yankees are interested in signing Kevin Millwood, a person familiar those conversations said Thursday.

Pettitte finished 240-138 with a 3.88 ERA in 16 major league seasons. He excelled in the postseason, setting a major league record