The stalemate with the Yankees lasted for months, but Pettitte said he always believed he would return. A critical point was last month when Cashman met with Pettitte in Houston on his way back from the winter meetings in Las Vegas.

Image The Yankees winter-long standoff with Andy Pettitte is about to come to an end. Credit... Barton Silverman/The New York Times

It was the first time Cashman had spoken to Pettitte, and he sensed Pettitte’s sincerity in wanting to come back. Pettitte has spent 11 of his 14 seasons with the Yankees.

“I remember him telling me at one point, ‘Cash, if you want me back, we’ll find a way to get this done,’ ” Cashman said. “He honored that every step of the way.”

Pettitte did not want the $10 million offer, but he agreed to the concept of an incentive-based deal. Details were the problem, and weeks passed. Pettitte took a vacation, and so did Cashman. Finally, on Monday, it was time.

“We had talked about so many scenarios and possibilities, it wouldn’t be too much of an exaggeration to say everybody was worn out,” Hendricks said. “I think Cash and I both knew if we don’t get it done now, we’ll probably never get it done.”

Pettitte pitched 204 innings last season, but he was 2-7 with a 6.23 earned run average in his last 11 starts. That brought his final record to 14-14. His 4.54 E.R.A. was his highest since 1999.

Yet Pettitte is only 36  a year older than Derek Lowe, who got a four-year, $60 million deal from Atlanta  and Cashman said he was surprised at the positive medical reports he got on Pettitte’s tired shoulder. Pettitte said he has worked this winter to strengthen it.