Pavano May Not Accept Minor League Deal

From the Hartford Courant (with a hat tip to Pete Abe):

Carl Pavano is still mulling a Yankees proposal to release him and then re-sign him to a minor league contract. He said Monday he is not close to a decision.

“I’d be giving up a lot of options if I signed a minor league deal,” Pavano said.

Pavano and his new representative, Tom O’Connell, met with officials from the Major League Players Association in New York on Monday to discuss those options. Pavano, 31, from Southington, has one year left on his contract and the Yankees owe him $12.95 million, including a $1.95 million buyout of his 2009 option. At the moment, he is on their 40-man roster and cannot be taken off unless he is released.

Even though Pavano will not be fully recovered from Tommy John surgery until at least midseason, he cannot be put on the disabled list, which would free up the roster spot, until the end of spring training. The Yankees, who have agreements with Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and LaTroy Hawkins, would like to open up a spot now.

If the Yankees release Pavano, he could sign with another team for the major league minimum and the Yankees would owe him the rest of his salary while he pitches for someone else. If Pavano signs a minor league deal, he would lose no money but could lose a year’s service time since the Yankees could keep him in the minor leagues all season.

Pavano, who had surgery in June, could be ready to pitch by midseason and his chances of getting a new contract anywhere would depend on whether and how he pitches in the majors in 2008.

Brian Cashman signed Pavano. He’s the one who took him to “Momma Mia.” Pavano was calling him “Cash” like he was a buddy, from the minute he signed.

I wonder how Brian Cashman feels about Carl Pavano today?

December 11, 2007 | Filed Under Embarrassing The Stripes

Comments

14 Responses to “Pavano May Not Accept Minor League Deal”

baileywalk on December 11th, 2007 12:51 pm

I can’t believe I repeatedly went to bat for this effin’ idiot. I still don’t buy that he was “scared” to pitch here and I still believe he could have been an effective three or four starter. But obviously the negative things said about his personality were true. There’s something wrong with this guy. Giving up a lot of options? Dude, you’ll end up with forty million dollars for a dozen starts. Do the right thing for once and maybe you’ll engender some good karma for a change.
Raf on December 11th, 2007 1:01 pm

I wonder how Brian Cashman feels about Carl Pavano today?
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Hopefully the same way I felt when he was signed, or when I found out he wasn’t traded over the 05, 06 & 07 (though it’s still early) offseasons.
MJ on December 11th, 2007 1:21 pm

Pavano’s a joke.

That being said, the Yanks put themselves in this position in the first place because they signed a guy that had been a walking, talking injury risk his entire career. They were idiots for signing him. Now they’re paying for it (as they have been since the day this loser showed up).

Boss Steinbrenner’s shady underworld connections would come in handy right about now.
Nick from Washington Heights on December 11th, 2007 1:31 pm

I ask this question sincerely. Which options are open to Pavano if he doesn’t sign the minor league deal?
Steve Lombardi on December 11th, 2007 1:37 pm

~~~Which options are open to Pavano if he doesn’t sign the minor league deal? ~~~

Tie up a spot on the roster until Opening Day.

Get released and sign with another team.
Nick from Washington Heights on December 11th, 2007 1:41 pm

I would love it if he signed with the Sox to become a sub-par middle reliever that Yanks hitters routinely desroyed for a season or two. Would any player get louder boos than him in the history of the rivarly?
MJ on December 11th, 2007 1:46 pm

“Would any player get louder boos than him in the history of the rivarly?”
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If A-Rod had signed with Boston, I think a case could be made that he’d be the most hated ex-Yankee of all time.
Bbig on December 11th, 2007 2:18 pm

what a douchebag.

steve, any chance of you organizing something along the lines of project-46 where we all write letters to Pavano telling him what a ridiculous sack of crap he is?
Steve Lombardi on December 11th, 2007 2:34 pm

LOL Bbig - too bad that assumes that Carl knows how to read.
Rich on December 11th, 2007 4:09 pm

What kind of values, or lack thereof, did his parents instill in him?
JeremyM on December 11th, 2007 6:37 pm

According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, Pavano has 8.161 years of service time in the majors. This little idiot wants to maximize his pension so he can get paid even more for doing nothing, and one more season sitting on the DL will almost get him there. What a loser.
Razor on December 11th, 2007 8:08 pm

A little bit off topic, but re Pettitte: Am I the only one who feels that maybe the Yankees asked him to say he was coming back to help them in negotiations with the twins and others? It was as if Pettitte was nowhere close to a decision, then suddently said “i’m coming back”. Plus (and i admit i don’t know exactly what i’m talking about here), the fact that he hasn’t signed a deal, and instead was offered arbitration…i believe means that he can back away later (not under contract) and also that, if he does back away, the yanks get some draft pick (since they lose a FA to whom they offered arb)? The latter point may only apply when another team picks up your FA but still…i hope he’s back for good but the timing and lack of an immediatley signed $16mill contract caught my eye.
Raf on December 11th, 2007 8:29 pm

Guess they learned their lesson with Clemens
JeremyM on December 11th, 2007 9:35 pm

Andy has indicated that he now also wants to come back for 2009 to open the stadium now, so don’t worry about it. The Yankees are playing games with their 40-man, which is why Rivera, Rodriguez, Hawkins, and Pettitte haven’t been announced. Anyway, I get the impression a lot of players feel the same way Andy did after a long season, it’s just that he was a lot more vocal about it than most others. David Wells comes to mind as one who always threatens retirement, for one.