December 12, 200421 yr Pavano we couldn't have won the WS without you. I wish you the greatest personal success, may you be the only bright spot on that team.
December 12, 200421 yr i hope the team (yank$) has its first losing season in a while, but that carl does well, and proves that he really deserves 11 million a year (by deserve i speak on a sporting standpoint, cause im not sure anyone needs or deserves such a ridiculous amount of money to play a game they love)
December 12, 200421 yr Just heard it on the radio ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Carl Pavano decided Saturday he wanted to pitch for the Yankees, and his agent and New York closed in on a four-year contract worth about $39 million. Pavano called his agent, Scott Shapiro, on Saturday morning and informed him of his decision. "Number one, he wants to win," Shapiro said. Anaheim, Baltimore, Boston, Detroit and Seattle also sought the right-hander, 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA for Florida last season. Shapiro said his next step was to meet with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman to finalize an agreement. Pavano and Shapiro met with the Yankees in New York last weekend, and Shapiro was confident a contract would be agreed to. "We have to really hunker down and have some serious negotiations to hammer out the deal," Shapiro said. The Yankees expect the agreement will be worth about $39 million, a baseball official said on condition of anonymity, and the contract could contain an option for a fifth season. New York also has a preliminary agreement with right-hander Jaret Wright on three-year, $21 million contract, but there may be a hitch in the deal. New York is still evaluating his physical exam, the baseball official said, and hasn't determined whether he passed it or failed it. Pavano had been wooed by the World Series champion Red Sox, with Curt Schilling inviting him to his home last month. A native of New Britain, Conn., he began his professional career in the Boston organization, and was traded to Montreal in the 1997 deal that brought Pedro Martinez to the Red Sox. "The Red Sox are an incredible organization. Obviously he's got a soft spot in his heart for them," Shapiro said. "It's been a real difficult decision for him. ... It's about Carl being happy where he's living and where he's playing." Earlier in the day, former Yankee David Wells made a surprising decision to pitch for Boston, reaching a preliminary agreement on a two-year, $8 million contract with the Red Sox that could be worth up to $18 million. In the AL Championship Series, New York became the first major league baseball team ever to waste a 3-0 postseason series lead, losing to Boston as its pitching collapsed. The Yankees have made reshaping their rotation a priority, and Pavano would join holdovers Mike Mussina, Javier Vazquez, Kevin Brown and possibly Wright. New York also has been talking with left-hander Eric Milton, who wants a three-year, $24 million deal, and could bring back Orlando Hernandez. Pavano, who turns 29 next month, has been probably the most sought-after of the top-level free-agent pitchers. In addition to New York and Boston, he also visited Detroit and Seattle. "It was a long process, but Carl is comfortable because he turned over every rock, he gathered all the information possible to make a decision," Shapiro said. Thats a good $5M less. Wonder if it truely is final since the #s dont agree.
December 12, 200421 yr Baxter has the story too Pavano picks Yankees BY KEVIN BAXTER kbaxter@herald.com ANAHEIM - After two cross-country flights, a dinner date with a Hall of Famer and a whistle-stop tour of more cities than some presidential candidates see in a two-week period, free-agent pitcher Carl Pavano has come to a decision. He wants to be a New York Yankee. On Saturday Pavano instructed Scott Shapiro, his agent with the Miami-based firm of Zumpano, Patricios & Winker, to enter into negotiations over a proposed four-year, $40-million contract with the club. In accepting the Yankees deal, Pavano will be leaving money on the table; the Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners all offered more. But if Pavano signs it, he will still have agreed to the second-most lucrative free-agent contract of the winter, topping the four-year, $33 million deal right-hander Russ Ortiz signed with Arizona on Friday and falling behind only the four-year, $45 million contract third baseman Troy Glaus got from the Diamondbacks a day earlier. Not bad for a guy who has a six-year big-league record of 57-58 and just one season with more than 12 victories. Shapiro, who is expected to fly to New York soon for contract talks, notified the pitcher's other suitors of Pavano's decision but said he would not close the door on those teams until a contract is signed, which may not happen until Wednesday. The Marlins, who had also courted the 28-year-old right-hander, were eliminated from contention Friday. ''I'm optimistic a deal can be consummated,'' Shapiro said. Pavano went 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA in an All-Star season with the Marlins last summer. When he declared for free agency after the season, more than a half-dozen teams lined up to bid for his services, giving way to a whirlwind multicity tour dubbed ''Carlpalooza'' in which the pitcher got to know the cities and teams interested in signing him. Included in the itinerary was a catered lunch at Curt Schilling's Boston home, a visit to the site of golf's Ryder Cup with Al Kaline outside Detroit, dinner at Yankee owner George Steinbrenner's favorite New York restaurant with Reggie Jackson and a game of pool at pitcher Jamie Moyer's house in Seattle. Pavano also had long, personal visits with Tiger owner Michael Ilitch and Orioles owner Peter Angelos. ''I went in there [into the tour] with an open mind, having no expectations, no limitations,'' said Pavano, who admitted he was humbled by the attention. ``I went in there just wanting to experience what other cities have...because this is my first time meeting everyone. ``I really want to convey my appreciation to all the organizations that extended such hospitality, welcoming me to the city, letting me get to know the personnel. This was just a great experience and a good part of this process that not many people get to enjoy or experience. And I really think that I experienced it to the fullest.'' In the end, however, it was the chance to pitch for a winner in front of family and friends at Yankee Stadium -- which is just an hour from Pavano's boyhood home in Connecticut -- that sealed the deal. ''Carl wants to settle down and have a family,'' Shapiro said. ``So being close to home is important to him now.'' Pavano, who cut short his tour late Wednesday to return to Montreal and talk over his options with his girlfriend, was thought to be leaning toward the Yankees for some time. But the club sweetened the deal this weekend by agreeing to a one-year no-trade clause, a fifth-year option and a performance clause that allows Pavano to return to the free-agent market early if he pitches a certain number of innings. However, Shapiro characterized all those offers as just that, offers, and said final contract language still must be worked out.
December 12, 200421 yr Pavano we couldn't have won the WS without you. 632649[/snapback] The marlins could have easily have won in 2003 without Pavano being a sub-.500 #5 starter. :whistle
December 12, 200421 yr Pavano we couldn't have won the WS without you. 632649[/snapback] The marlins could have easily have won in 2003 without Pavano being a sub-.500 #5 starter. :whistle 632702[/snapback] Playoffs?!?
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