Decision may come by mid-December

HOUSTON -- Agents for Andy Pettitte met again with Houston Astros officials Tuesday and say the left-hander -- who is coming off a four-year contract with the New York Yankees -- may have a decision on his future plans by the middle of next month.

Houston television station KRIV quoted unidentified major league sources as saying the Astros had offered Pettitte a three-year contract.

But Astros owner Drayton McLane said it was premature to talk about an offer.

"This was more an exploratory discussion," McLane told KRIV. "For Andy Pettitte to come to Houston, he wants to understand more about the team we are going to have next year and future years going down the road. This was more of an overall general discussion not only about him being a Houston Astro but how our team is going to develop the next several years.''

Re-signing Pettitte is the No. 1 priority of the American League champion Yankees, who have said they expect to negotiate with him later in the offseason. Pettitte lives in the Houston area.

Randy Hendricks, one of Pettite's agents, told KRIV that they met with Houston officials to clarify some matters previously discussed.

Hendricks wouldn't comment on any offers from the Astros other than to say the Astros are interested.

"We wouldn't be back if Andy weren't interested," he said.

A call to the Houston Astros by The Associated Press Tuesday night was not immediately returned.

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