Carl Pavano retires
(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
After 14 seasons, pitcher Carl Pavano has opted to retire from the game. According to Jeff Todd of MLB Trade Rumors, Pavano’s agent, Dave Pepe had the following statement from Pavano:
"“Despite my strong desire to compete and hard work in preparing for the upcoming season. I feel that the amount of time lost from my spleen injury, coupled with the recovery from my complications from that injury, preclude me from continuing to compete at my highest level, which is necessary to perform in the major leagues.“Three months of rigorous training have failed to produce the results that I was looking for to allow me to continue my major league career.”"
Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round of the 1994 June Amateur Draft, Pavano was in the trade which brought Pedro Martinez to the Sawx. Pavano would make his major league debut for the Montreal Expos on May 23, 1998 against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Some may say Pavano’s best season was 2004 when he was a member of the Florida Marlins. He was the top guy on a starting staff that also featured Dontrelle Willis, Josh Beckett, A.J. Burnett and Brad Penny. Pavano would finish 6th in the NL Cy Young voting (won by Roger Clemens) after posting a record of 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.174 WHIP and 137 ERA+.
Injuries seemingly found their way to Pavano, forcing him to miss all of the 2006 season, and missing chunks of the next two seasons. Didn’t help that during those years he was in the midst of a four-year, $39.95MM deal with the New York Yankees. And there was the spleen issue Pavano notes in his statement.
Ask any Yankees fan about some broken ribs…
However, after Pavano left the Bronx, his health returned. For the three-year period of 2009-2011, Pavano made at least 30 starts in each of those season as a member of the Minnesota Twins. In his last season of 2012, Pavano made 11 starts, and posted a 2-5 record with a 6.00 ERA and was permitted free agency after the season’s end. He did not pitch in 2013.
For his career, Carl Pavano posted a line of 108-107, 4.39 ERA, 1.340 WHIP, 96 ERA+.