Pavano, New Agent Says, May Stay With Yankees
By TYLER KEPNER
Published: December 11, 2007
Tom O’Connell has been an agent for 10 years, and he represents about 60 baseball players, mostly in the minor leagues. He may have just met his toughest challenge.
About a month ago, O’Connell had dinner with one of his minor leaguers, the veteran Frank Menechino, in Staten Island. Menechino had told O’Connell that he would be taking along his friend Carl Pavano, the Yankees pitcher who had already fired three agents in his lucrative, yet injury-riddled, career.
O’Connell has a sunny disposition, and Pavano has been sour almost from the moment he signed his infamous four-year, $39.95 million contract with the Yankees in December 2004. Yet the two hit it off, and on Friday, O’Connell agreed to become Pavano’s latest agent, following Casey Close, Scott Shapiro and Gregg Clifton.
“I’m very excited to be representing him,” O’Connell said Tuesday. “I really, truly believe he’s going to have a very happy ending — hopefully.”
In his new role, O’Connell learned from the Yankees that they wanted to release Pavano and re-sign him to a minor league contract. The team needs spots on the 40-man roster for Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera and LaTroy Hawkins, who have agreed to contracts that have not yet been finalized.
The parsing of the roster began last week, when José Molina and Andy Pettitte officially rejoined the team. That led the Yankees to designate infielder Andy Phillips and outfielder Bronson Sardinha for assignment.
Now, with the roster at 40 and Pavano months away from returning from the reconstructive surgery he had on his right elbow in June, the Yankees could use his spot. But they want to keep him in their employ, presumably so they can continue to collect insurance on his contract.
That would require an act of good faith by Pavano. In theory, Pavano can sign a major league deal with another team as soon as he is released. But he seems likely to take the Yankees’ minor league offer. The remaining $12.95 million on his contract is guaranteed either way.
“Carl has tremendous respect for Brian and the organization,” O’Connell said, referring to Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman. “Obviously, he feels they made a solid commitment to him a few years ago, and he definitely is leaning toward going back to them on a minor league deal.”
O’Connell said Pavano was concerned because he was only 11 days from accruing 10 years’ service time in the majors and thus a full pension. Pavano made two starts last season (including one on opening day), none in 2006 and 17 in 2005. He is 5-6 with a 4.77 earned run average in his Yankees career.
Pavano has been splitting his time this winter between West Palm Beach, Fla., and Manhattan. O’Connell said he had been playing catch from 60 feet in the indoor batting cages at Yankee Stadium.
“I really still believe he can help a team in the second half of this season coming up,” O’Connell said.
He said it was not clear if Pavano would report to spring training with the Yankees in Tampa, Fla., or work out in Arizona with Brett Fischer, a trainer Clifton recommended when Pavano hired him in 2006.
O’Connell expects at least one client to be in the clubhouse at Legends Field in February — Nick Green, who will compete for the job of backup infielder.
That could be the only position-player spot up for grabs in spring training, unless the Yankees trade outfielder Hideki Matsui, who has a full no-trade clause, to the San Francisco Giants. The teams have talked, and although relievers like Jonathan Sánchez would interest the Yankees, the Giants are unlikely to trade starters Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum for Matsui.
News source：http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/11/sports/baseball/12yanks.html?_r=1&ref=baseball&oref=slogin
Tom O’Connell has been an agent for 10 years, and he represents about 60 baseball players, mostly in the minor leagues. He may have just met his toughest challenge.
About a month ago, O’Connell had dinner with one of his minor leaguers, the veteran Frank Menechino, in Staten Island. Menechino had told O’Connell that he would be taking along his friend Carl Pavano, the Yankees pitcher who had already fired three agents in his lucrative, yet injury-riddled, career.
O’Connell has a sunny disposition, and Pavano has been sour almost from the moment he signed his infamous four-year, $39.95 million contract with the Yankees in December 2004. Yet the two hit it off, and on Friday, O’Connell agreed to become Pavano’s latest agent, following Casey Close, Scott Shapiro and Gregg Clifton.
“I’m very excited to be representing him,” O’Connell said Tuesday. “I really, truly believe he’s going to have a very happy ending — hopefully.”
In his new role, O’Connell learned from the Yankees that they wanted to release Pavano and re-sign him to a minor league contract. The team needs spots on the 40-man roster for Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera and LaTroy Hawkins, who have agreed to contracts that have not yet been finalized.
The parsing of the roster began last week, when José Molina and Andy Pettitte officially rejoined the team. That led the Yankees to designate infielder Andy Phillips and outfielder Bronson Sardinha for assignment.
Now, with the roster at 40 and Pavano months away from returning from the reconstructive surgery he had on his right elbow in June, the Yankees could use his spot. But they want to keep him in their employ, presumably so they can continue to collect insurance on his contract.
That would require an act of good faith by Pavano. In theory, Pavano can sign a major league deal with another team as soon as he is released. But he seems likely to take the Yankees’ minor league offer. The remaining $12.95 million on his contract is guaranteed either way.
“Carl has tremendous respect for Brian and the organization,” O’Connell said, referring to Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman. “Obviously, he feels they made a solid commitment to him a few years ago, and he definitely is leaning toward going back to them on a minor league deal.”
O’Connell said Pavano was concerned because he was only 11 days from accruing 10 years’ service time in the majors and thus a full pension. Pavano made two starts last season (including one on opening day), none in 2006 and 17 in 2005. He is 5-6 with a 4.77 earned run average in his Yankees career.
Pavano has been splitting his time this winter between West Palm Beach, Fla., and Manhattan. O’Connell said he had been playing catch from 60 feet in the indoor batting cages at Yankee Stadium.
“I really still believe he can help a team in the second half of this season coming up,” O’Connell said.
He said it was not clear if Pavano would report to spring training with the Yankees in Tampa, Fla., or work out in Arizona with Brett Fischer, a trainer Clifton recommended when Pavano hired him in 2006.
O’Connell expects at least one client to be in the clubhouse at Legends Field in February — Nick Green, who will compete for the job of backup infielder.
That could be the only position-player spot up for grabs in spring training, unless the Yankees trade outfielder Hideki Matsui, who has a full no-trade clause, to the San Francisco Giants. The teams have talked, and although relievers like Jonathan Sánchez would interest the Yankees, the Giants are unlikely to trade starters Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum for Matsui.
News source：http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/11/sports/baseball/12yanks.html?_r=1&ref=baseball&oref=slogin
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