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Carl Pavano Traded to Twins

Former Red Sox farmhand Carl Pavano was acquired by the Twins for a player to be named later to help shore up their starting rotation. Pavano, and Tony Armas, Jr., were the two players the Red Sox sent to Montreal in 1997. Though he never pitched a game for the Red Sox, he was hyped in the minors as an up-and-coming anchor for the rotation.

He had one above .500 season for the Expos and was traded to the Marlins in 2002, where he found his form. He won the World Series in 2003 with the Marlins, a rotation featuring Josh Beckett. In that playoff run, he was 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA in 19.1 playoff innings, mostly in relief. He finished sixth in the National League Cy Young Award voting after posting an 18-8 record, two shutouts, and a 3.00 ERA.

He then became New York’s biggest laughingstock signing, making 26 starts and winning just nine games over four years with the Yankees. He did not pitch in 2006 at all. Injuries were the biggest cause, but he was rerided for work ethic as well.

The Indians signed him this offseason and he has gone 9-8 with a 5.37 ERA. For his career, he is 75-74 with a 4.43 ERA. This is a curious acquisition to me, though I doubt it will cost the Twins much more than a low level prospect. Pavano, aside from the 2004 season, has not come close to his potential and he just seems due for an injury. However, the Twins have not gotten anything out of Francisco Liriano and this would allow them to take him out of the rotation.

Tags: Carl Pavano, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins