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The End (of Pavano) is near

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From George “I make up funny nicknames for players, like Kyle ‘The Mop’ Farnsworth, haha” King:

With a need for space on the 40-man roster, the Yankees are about to approach “American Idle” Carl Pavano. Their plan is to release him then invite him to spring training on a minor-league deal. Pavano had Tommy John surgery last summer. The minor-league offer may have something to do with collecting insurance money on Pavano’s four-year, $40 million contract that expires after the 2008 season.

Let’s just end this experiment already and let him walk. Maybe Dave Duncan can work his magic and revitalize Pavano’s career, but his days in pinstripes should be over.

(Hat tip to Patrick)

Almost as rare as Big Foot

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Spotted outside my office this afternoon: A man wearing a Yankee shirt with the number 45 on the back and the name Pavano written above it. That’s right; I saw someone wearing a Carl Pavano shirt in public. Maybe he was out of clean clothing because really, who does that?

Suing Carl Pavano

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pavano.jpg When the news came down on Wednesday that Carl Pavano will have season-ending reconstructive surgery on his elbow, no one really blinked. After two-plus seasons of Pavano’s routine, no one was surprised that Pavano would be missing out on fulfilling the remainder of his four-year deal.

It’s hard to believe that things weren’t always like this. Following the 2004 season when Pavano hit free agency, a bidding war erupted. The Red Sox wanted him; the Tigers wanted him; the Phillies and Rangers were mildly interested. It took recruiting phone calls from the Joe Torre and Derek Jeter to lure Pavano to the Bronx. Fans and players alike acted as though it were a big coup.

Well, $39.95 million and 19 starts later, the Yanks hardly got a return on their investment. Pavano won 5 games for the Yanks. He threw 111.3 innings and had an ERA of 4.77.

Since arriving in New York, Pavano has developed a reputation as a whiner, a complainer and a selfish player. The media and his teammates have questioned his desire to play, and if he comes back from this surgery, you can bet he won’t don the Yankee uniform in 2008. When he becomes a free agent in Nov. 2008, he’ll be lucky to sign an incentive-laden deal with a second-tier team. A Minor League deal and a spring training invite could be all that awaits him.

The Yankees, on the other hand, are probably furious with him. This is money that could have spent elsewhere and on a player who wanted to perform. It is safe to say that Carl Pavano did not live up to the terms of his contract. So I think the Yankees should sue Carl Pavano.

I’m not familiar with the standard player contract for Major League Baseball, and I’m sure the contract as an injury clause in it. But it’s really easy to claim that Carl Pavano did not honor his side of the contract and is in breach.

He was paid $39.95 million to play baseball for four years. Instead, he missed all of 2005 to various maladies including a broken rib sustained in a car accident and will now miss the rest of 2007 and most, if not all, of 2008.

Of course, no team would sue a player, but it would certainly be interesting to see how such a suit would play out. And it would be great revenge just to drag Pavano’s oft-injured ass into court.

Image from Da Bronx Bombers.

Carl Pavano: Big, fat pussy

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From today’s Under the Knife (subscription required):

Here’s the long and short on Carl Pavano–even before he had an MRI or saw a specialist, he’d made the decision to have Tommy John surgery…

Much like Octavio Dotel a few years ago, though, Pavano is simply not willing to pitch through the soreness…

Call him “American Idle” or the “Rajah of Rehab” if you want. In my opinion, he’s gone beyond that, and is simply stealing money.

The gist of the article is that Pavano’s UCL is torn, but not completely, and it shouldn’t necessitate surgery. By having the surgery, he basically ends his tenure as a Yankee, which I’m sure he welcomes.

Notice that I didn’t once mention his name in the Clemens article. The Yanks are certainly better off at this point not having Carl Pavano around. Though, if he just allowed the injury to heal and was willing to pitch through pain, he could be added to that budding bullpen mix. That’s just not happening, though.

This leaves the Yanks in an interesting scenario. They don’t need Pavano; not now, not later this season, not next year. He wants to have surgery that is not necessary — on the team’s dime, for certain — and then rehab — also on the team’s dime. If he continues to insist on surgery against the team’s will, DFA him. Now, I’m not sure if that removes the team’s responsibility to pay for his surgery and rehab. But if it does, there’s no reason for Pavano to stick around. Let some other team deal with him.

Pavano and Tommy John may soon have something in common

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Well, folks, the Carl Pavano Experience may finally be coming to an end. Loyal reader Jason B. sent us this tip from Don Amore’s blog. Carl Pavano is heading to see Dr. James Andrews and could be out for quite a while.

The Pavano news is bad. He had been throwing on the side, and got up on the mound on Sunday, but though the team kept saying he was getting better, he didn’t seem so optimistic. He is going to see Dr. James Andrews in Alabama and may, in fact, need Tommy John surgery, which would finish him for this season and probably next season,too, possibly ending is career.

“It’s getting ridiculous, the team needs me,” Pavano said. “It’s frustrating for all of us.”

There just ain’t much left to say about the man some Yankee writers have dubbed the Rajah of Rehab. Carl Pavano will pocket $39.95 million for what looks like 19 starts over four years. This will go down as one of the worst signings in Yankee history, but now, we can stick a fork in Pavano because he’s done.

Moose and Pavano hit the DL, and this is a good thing

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Why you ask? Because their likely replacements will probably outperform them.

Phil Hughes is perfectly capable of matching the 11.1 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 K line put up by Pavano, and I’m sure Mighty Matt can match Moose’s 6 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 4 K effort.

Chase Wright is not the answer. If you think he is, then I hope the simplicity of calling him up because he’s lined up to start Tuesday and is already on the 40-man roster comforts you when he gets his brains beat in. Start the process of dumping Colter Bean and Jeff Kennard off the 40-man (seriously, why do these guys have a spot anyway? They’re dead weight), and get Hughes and DeSalvo ready to go.

I can’t fathom why everyone’s afraid to call Hughes up. He’s learned as much as possible in the minors, he’s as ready as he’s going to get, and the Yanks have the need for him. The Yanks can show some confidence in Mighty Matt after his dominant outing, and help him further get back on track.Â

It’s an ideal situation: they’re low risk moves with the potential for great reward, plus they’re nice and easy to back out of.Â

FYI, Britton got the call to reinforce the pen for the next couple of days.

Let’s get a little discussion going: who should fill in for Moose and Meatball, why, and how will they fare?

Update: The Yanks have decided who will start Tuesday, but won’t announce who it’ll be until the player has been notified. Translation: Double-A Trenton will need to find a starter for Tuesday. Sigh.

I can’t believe I have to campaign for a Phil Hughes promotion….

Update Part Deux: It’s Chase “I’m half the pitcher Hughes is, but I’ve made 2 great starts in a league I’m too old for after having 1 good year since being drafted in 2001” Wright. I’m not bitter…