"If Andy Pettitte returns, he and other Yankees hurlers will find a new face behind the mask -- and one who comes with mixed reviews.

The Yanks haven't heard from Pettitte, who is deciding between retirement or resuming a borderline Hall of Fame career.

Nevertheless, the Yankees have a new catcher in Russell Martin, who signed a one-year, $4 million deal that includes performance bonuses that could raise the value to $5.4 million. Martin underwent a physical in Manhattan on Tuesday and the deal could be announced as soon as today.

After telling Jorge Posada they viewed him as a DH, the Yankees strongly hinted that Jesus Montero, Austin Romine and Francisco Cervelli would compete for the starting catching job.

Now, that job appears to be 5-foot-10, 230-pound Martin's to lose and Montero, if not included in a deal for a stud starter, might open the season at Triple-A.

Non-tendered by the Dodgers who were wary of going to arbitration with Martin, who made $5 million last year, Martin opted for the Yankees over the Blue Jays in his native Canada and the Red Sox.

So what can the Yanks expect from Martin, who will be 28 in February? That depends on whom you ask. Nevertheless, all talent evaluators agree on one topic: Martin's production has plummeted the past two seasons, and there are questions about his game-calling."