Posted: January 19, 2011, 6:01 p.m. CT
By PATRICK DONNELLY
FOXSportsNorth.com
MINNEAPOLIS � The Minnesota Twins solidified their starting rotation on Wednesday by re-signing right-hander Carl Pavano to a two-year, $16.5 million contract.
Pavano, 35, will be paid $8 million in 2011 and $8.5 million in 2012.
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He went 17-11 with a 3.75 ERA for the Twins last year, his first full season with Minnesota. In 2009, Minnesota acquired him for the stretch drive in a trade with Cleveland, where he'd gone to resurrect his career after a disastrous four years with the Yankees.
Pavano went 5-4 over the final two months of 2009 to help the Twins win the AL Central title, then returned to the Twins on a one-year contract last year and pitched the first regular-season game at Target Field. The Twins' investment proved successful as Pavano was the team's only starter to not miss a turn in the rotation all year. He threw seven complete games and two shutouts in 32 starts, and in 221 innings pitched he allowed 227 hits with 37 walks and 117 strikeouts.
A handful of teams were reportedly interested in signing Pavano in the offseason � including, surprisingly, the Yankees � but like teammate Jim Thome, who re-signed with the Twins last week, Pavano chose to return to a familiar setting where both he and the franchise have had recent success.
"Their goals are a lot in line with my goals and that's to go out and win and have a great atmosphere and surround yourself with great guys, teammates and a great staff," Pavano said. "They have all those things in place that I got to experience and enjoy very much. It's kind of tough to take myself out of that element when I know they have everything I need there. And, like I said, the experiences I've had there in that organization are tough to replace anywhere else."
Pavano and lefty Francisco Liriano are locked in as the Twins' top two starters, likely followed by left-hander Brian Duensing. That trio started Minnesota's three playoff games against the Yankees in October. The final two starters will come from a pool that includes right-handers Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn and Kevin Slowey, three pitchers who have shown promise but whose consistency should be helped by the veteran Pavano's presence in the clubhouse.
"One of the biggest acquisitions that we made in 2009 was getting Carl Pavano at the start of August," Twins general manager Bill Smith said. "Over those last two months, he brought that veteran presence to a group of young starters. And he backed it up this past year � he pitched 200 innings and he's been a leader on that pitching staff.
Pavano's career has been marred by injuries and a high-profile flame-out in a major media market. After winning 30 games and a World Series title over two years with Florida, Pavano signed a four-year, $38 million deal with the Yankees, but injuries to his arm, shoulder and hip limited him to just 26 starts in pinstripes.
"He has proven himself to be healthy and durable for the last few years and we know how hard he works," Smith said. "We know he's a leader and we're looking for big things out of Carl Pavano. We're looking for him to continue to be a mainstay in that pitching rotation and bring a lot of victories to this ball club here at Target Field."
