Yankees P Mussina to decide on future next week

Nov 13, 2008 - 6:47 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- New York Yankees righthander Mike Mussina is expected to decide next week if he will return for a 19th season or retire.

Mussina, who won 20 games for the first time in his career this past season, told the New York Daily News on Wednesday that he intends to make a decision early next week.

"I'm still kind of up in the air," said Mussina, who went 20-9 with a 3.37 ERA in 2008. "I'm enjoying my time off, but then again, I always enjoy my time off."

A free agent, the 39-year-old Mussina hinted at the end of the season that he was leaning toward retirement.

"Moose told me after the season that he was probably going to retire," manager Joe Girardi told the Daily News. "I've said all along you've got to give a month or two to decide."

Mussina, who has spent his last eight seasons with the Yankees after playing his first 10 campaigns with the Baltimore Orioles, has a career record of 270-153 with a 3.68 ERA in 537 games.