BASEBALL Pettitte and Astros agree to 3-year deal

Teams are preparing for the start of the winter meetings in New Orleans.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Andy Pettitte will pitch at home, agreeing today to a three-year contract with the Houston Astros after playing his entire major league career for the New York Yankees.
New York immediately went to its backup plan, closing in on a trade with Los Angeles that would send Kevin Brown to the Yankees for Jeff Weaver, a baseball official said on the condition of anonymity.
Pettitte made his decision after weighing a new offer from the Yankees on Wednesday night, another baseball source said, also on the condition of anonymity.
The Yankees' offered the left-handed starter $39 million for three years, about $3 million more annually than Houston. But the Astros play near Pettitte's hometown of Deer Park, apparently an important factor.
Houston planned to announce the deal at a news conference today. Pettitte's decision to sign with Houston was first reported by Newsday on its Web site.
Career numbers
Pettitte, 31, went 149-78 with the Yankees, who signed him in 1991. If he had stayed in New York, he would have had the chance to surpass Whitey Ford's 236 victories and become the winningest left-hander in team history.
He went 21-8 with a 4.02 ERA last season.
With the Astros, he joins a team trying to rebuild and win at the same time. Houston dealt closer Billy Wagner to Philadelphia last month in a cost-cutting move. Pettitte will combine with Wade Miller and Roy Oswalt to form a powerful front three in the rotation.
While Houston has had many strong teams since joining the National League for the 1962 season, the Astros have never made it to the World Series.
Pettitte owns four World Series rings from his time with the Yankees.
Without Pettitte, the Yankees are left with a rotation that includes Mike Mussina, Jose Contreras and Javier Vazquez, acquired from Montreal last week. Candidates for the back end of the rotation include Jon Leiber -- who missed all of last season -- and David Wells, who has had back problems and is close to agreement on a minor league contract.
Other moves
Detroit agreed to a $6 million, two-year contract with second baseman Fernando Vina, Colorado agreed to a $2.1 million, one-year deal with third baseman Vinny Castilla and Texas replaced Rafael Palmeiro at first by agreeing to $1 million, one-year contract with Brad Fullmer.
Pittsburgh settled on minor league contracts with outfielder Daryle Ward and right-hander Juan Acevedo.
The New York Mets finalized their $20.1 million, three-year contract with shortstop Kazuo Matsui, and San Diego completed a two-year contract with reliever Akinori Otsuka, a deal worth just under $2 million.
In Texas, general manager John Hart sounded doubtful the Rangers would pull off the big-money trade that would send AL MVP Alex Rodriguez to Boston for Nomar Garciaparra. Hart said he and Texas manager Buck Showalter had said "many, many times" that they envision Rodriguez staying with the Rangers.
"We've been saying all along this thing has taken on a life of its own and has been a runaway fire," Hart said.