Carl Pavano hoping to showcase for MLB teams prior to spring training
By Ben Beecken
According to Chris Cotillo, pitcher Carl Pavano is hoping to hold a showcase for MLB teams very soon in hopes of catching on with a club before spring training starts.
Pavano, who ruptured his spleen nearly a year ago shoveling snow at home, has been recovering and hoping to prolong his career, despite his advanced age (he turns 38 in early January) and having not pitched in well over a calender year. He last pitched in an injury-riddled 2012 campaign for the Minnesota Twins, posting a 2-5 record and a 6.00 ERA in just 63 innings pitched.
Cotillo points out that Pavano may not necessarily be aiming for when pitchers and catchers go to camp in February, or even for Opening Day, for that matter. A showcase showing relative health and some velocity will surely earn Pavano an invite to someone’s camp, as Pavano is only a couple of years removed from a pair of very effective, 200+ inning seasons in 2010 and 2011, with an ERA of 4.02 over those two seasons.
Pavano, of course, is famous for his struggles with the New York Yankees after receiving a lucrative free agent deal on the heels of an 18-8, 3.00 ERA season with the Florida Marlins in 2004. Since leaving New York, however, Pavano was largely a solid back-of-the-rotation option for the Cleveland Indians and the Twins. Here’s hoping he can finish out his career with some solid innings, especially after overcoming such a serious, life-threatening injury just 12 months ago.