Fansided

New York Yankees: The 10 biggest mistakes the Yankees ever made

By Ryan Morik

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 30: Jacoby Ellsbury #22 of the New York Yankees reacts in pain after hitting the ball off his foot in an MLB baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 30, 2017 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees won 2-1. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 30: Jacoby Ellsbury #22 of the New York Yankees reacts in pain after hitting the ball off his foot in an MLB baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 30, 2017 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees won 2-1. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – MAY 11: Pitcher Carl Pavano #45 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch against the Seattle Mariners during the game on May 11, 2005 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx Borough of New York. The Yankees defeated the Mariners 13-9. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – MAY 11: Pitcher Carl Pavano #45 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch against the Seattle Mariners during the game on May 11, 2005 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx Borough of New York. The Yankees defeated the Mariners 13-9. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

3. Signing Carl Pavano

After the crushing 2004 choke, the Yankees wanted a boost in their rotation. Apparently, a rotation of Mike Mussina, Javier Vazquez, Jon Lieber, Kevin Brown, and Jose Contreras wasn’t cutting it. Shocking, after losing Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, and David Wells.

So they turned to future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson and future No. 3 on this list Carl Pavano.

The Johnson contract turned out okay. I mean, this guy had won four-straight Cy Young Awards.

But Pavano signed a four-year deal worth close to $40 million. After a hot start in 2005 he had a 6.46 ERA in his final seven starts that year before he injured his shoulder in June and missed the rest of the season – finishing with a 4.77 ERA and 4-6 record in 17 starts.

Then he literally bruised his butt in spring training the next year. Sadly, Pavano was also injured in a car accident that season.

He missed the entire 2006 season, but then was named the Opening Day starter in 2007. He then made just two starts and had Tommy John surgery.

He capped off his Yankee tenure with a 5.77 ERA in seven starts in 2008.

After making 31 starts for the Marlins in 2004, earning his lone All-Star nod and finishing in sixth place in the National League Cy Young Award voting, he ended up making just 26 starts in his four seasons as a Yankee.

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