The Twins reaches a 2-year, $16.5 million deal with Carl Pavano, he of the hipster mustache movement and a notable former bust with the Yankees. Funnily enough, word is the Yankees were in on Pavano before this deal was made, which should tell you a little something about the possibility of Sergio Mitre being a 5th starter in the AL East. Assuming health (HA!) the deal is, well, what it is: about $8 million annually for an innings eating sinkerballer who projects to have an ERA and FIP a little above 4. A front of the rotation ace he is not, but you can certainly do worse than Pavano, and since the Twins should find themselves in contention for the Central crown this season, bringing Pavano back is a fine move. There is obvious risk here for the Twins beyond the fact that Pavano can injury himself answering the phone. He just turned 35 and will be 36 when the contract expires, hardly a pitcher's peak performance years (generally speaking). The Twins have done a fabulous job of growing into a mid-market team from a small market club, and their recent expansion of payroll is admirable. But the Twins aren't the Yankees, and if Pavano goes down tomorrow with an infected naval ring piercing and doesn't return for 2 seasons-as he is capable of doing- the Twins will not have the budget flexibility to replace him to the tune of $8 million annually.
Fangraphs compares Pavano to Jake Westbrook, and how they're basically the same thing. It is interesting that conventional wisdom said Pavano would land the bigger deal based on nothing in particular.
More Delightful Random Baseball For Your Reading Pleasure...
The Yankee bullpen is quite expensive. If the idea is to compensate for not having a 4th or 5th starter by shortening games to 6 innings, color me skeptical. 3 situational lefties, who may face 2 batters or less with each appearance, making a total of $9.2 million? Who is your bullpen innings eater, Joba?
The Dodgers show how not to create a platoon.
The Padres signed Chad Qualls, and in related news this blog struggled with whether or not that was actual news worthy of posting.
Happy belated birthday to the mustache Carl Pavano's mustache wishes it could be, but can't because true mustache greatness is not born of irony.
Mike Pelfrey is your 2011 Mets opening day starter. If Pelfrey were on the Phillies his start would be skipped till mid-April due to the early season schedule. Just sayin'.
Here's a look at the 2011 MLB Draft's first round order. As of now, the name to know is Anthony Rendon.
No comments:
Post a Comment