Andy Pettitte hints return, not retirement, in 2013

The Yankees' Andy Pettitte suggested he would return in 2013. (Abelimages/Getty Images)

Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte told The New York Post he still had a "desire to compete" beyond this season, suggesting that a 2013 return is more likely than not as he prepared to take the mound for the Yankees in the postseason Monday night.

“I know one thing: I know the competition and the desire to compete is still there, and I don’t feel like I kind of got that itch out from the 70 innings or so that I threw this year,” Pettitte said.

“I was expecting to do a little bit more work than that. But we’ll see. We’ll see how this goes, and then I’ll factor everything probably in.”

The 41-year-old Pettitte was set to take the mound Monday night for the Yankees in Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles. Pettitte holds major-league records for all-time playoff wins (19) and starts (42). He is 19-10 with a 3.83 ERA in his career in the postseason.