Pettitte to play for Yankees in '08  —  Agent confirms veteran's decision to choose Bronx over retirement  —  NASHVILLE - Andy Pettitte, who contemplated retirement this winter, has told his good friends, a few former Astros teammates and some current Yankees teammates that he will return to the Bronx for the 2008 season.

Pettitte not retiring, will pitch for Yankees in 2008  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Andy Pettitte has decided to put off retirement and pitch for the New York Yankees in 2008.  —  Pettitte's agent, Randy Hendricks, said Monday that the 35-year-old left-hander had started telling teammates on Sunday.

Besides the human tree, not much movin' here yet  —  NASHVILLE — Three of your baseball Globies — Nick Cafardo, Amalie Benjamin and myself — have been doing laps around the massive interior of the Opryland Hotel, where baseball types are shoulder to shoulder with busloads of tourists here to admire the Christmas decorations.

Five elected to Hall by Vets Committee  —  Williams, Southworth, Kuhn, O'Malley, Dreyfuss get nods  —  NASHVILLE — Five managers and executives were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday under revamped rules that created separate Veterans Committee ballots.

Dukes traded to Nationals  —  The Rays finally had enough of Elijah Dukes.  —  The Rays have traded Dukes to the Nationals, the Times has confirmed, with an official announcement expected around 6 p.m. Tampa Bay time.  —  The Rays will get back a minor-leaguer but until he is notified …