Former New York Yankees Pitcher Carl Pavano Retires

Apr. 16, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher

(48) pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

In case you missed it yesterday, a former New York Yankees pitcher retired. A pitcher who got into car accidents and injured his butt while with the Yankees. A right-hander who was acquired via free agency, with the hope that he would be a right-handed force in the rotation for years to come. A right-hander who had to start once on opening day due to injuries up and down the rotation. That right-hander is Carl Pavano.

His tenure didn’t start out badly after signing a 4-year deal worth $39.95 million. He went 4-2 with a 3.69 ERA. After injuring his shoulder, he went 0-5 the rest of the way. In 2006, Pavano bruised his butt and began the season on the DL. In August of that year, he broke two ribs in a car accident and DIDN’T tell the team about it after they were expecting him to come off the DL.

In 2007, he won on opening day and only made one more start after it was revealed that he needed Tommy John surgery. He came back in August of 2008 and went 4-2 with an ERA of 5.77. All told, he won nine games in four seasons with the Yankees.

Pavano would go on to play for Cleveland and Minnesota, where in 2009 and 2010 he would lose to the Yankees in the divisional round.

The Pavano signing was one of the worst in Yankees history. His total WAR in four years was 0.4 and that was entirely from his first year. Good luck in your next life Carl. Hope it goes better than your time as a Yankee.