MLB Trade Rumors: Could King Carl Be Next Out the Door?
Written By: TD | Category: Cleveland Indians | Comments: 14
Stop laughing. Seriously. Carl Pavano is a very legitimate trade option for contending teams looking to bolster their rotation.
Just because the non-waiver trade deadline came and went without the American Idle being shipped off like a handful of his now-former teammates, doesn’t mean he will stay in an Indians uniform the rest of the way. The waiver-trade deadline is still 28 days away. If you recall, last year at this time, another Tribe veteran right-handed starter was pitching on the top of his game and became a hot property after the July 31st date.
That man was Paul Byrd.
The Byrd Man went on a five start winning streak for the out of contention Indians and wound up in a Red Sox uniform after clearing waivers in July. Byrd’s contract was for $7 million, making him passable on the wire. Most teams in this economic climate aren’t inclined to add a back of the rotation guy at that price. However, Boston could afford that kind of luxury. It was also nice for a good guy like Byrd to get another shot at his first ring.
The 2009 economy is in even worse straights, but that certainly has no effect on the “have’s” like the Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers, and Angels of the world. This year more than ever, more players are expected to easily clear waivers and be available before August 31st. Put it this way – if you have a big contract and are under-performing, odds are you will clear waivers (I’m talking about you, Travis Hafner). On the other hand, you may be playing up to your contract and still clear because most teams don’t want to add payroll.
This brings us back to Pavano. The right-handed starter kind of falls somewhere in the middle of this. He is having his first healthy season since 2004 with Florida, making 21 starts. 125.2 innings are the most he has thrown since that season, but the Indians have done a nice job of keeping him rested and giving him extra days wherever they can.
The numbers won’t wow you (9-8/5.37 ERA/1.38 WHIP/88 K’s/125.1 IP), but keep in mind he is pitching with a huge chip on his shoulder and has shown flashes of brilliance (3-0 with a 1.93 ERA against the first place Tigers this season). Take away the two horrific outings where was rocked for 18 runs in 6.2 IP, and his ERA is under four.
Its interesting that he has reached the incentives in his contract and is now in line to receive the full $5.5 million. A contender with the means to add payroll could easily be looking his way. His eight inning, one run performance yesterday definitely didn’t hurt.
“I’m not worried about that,” Pavano said in regards to potentially being dealt. “I wasn’t worried about it at the earlier deadline, and I’m not worried about it now. I’m keeping it simple. I don’t get paid to make those decisions. My job is to take the ball every fifth day and execute pitches. If it does come down, it means somebody wants you.”
GM Mark Shapiro, as illustrated with the events of last week, won’t hesitate to send King Carl packing if the right situation presents itself. They got him for nothing this offseason, so getting anything in return for him would be a bonus.
Author: TD
TD is a born and bred Clevelander who agrees with ESPN's Scott Van Pelt when he says ""Ranch Dressing makes everything better except for cereal and ice cream."TD has written 253 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
i would be all for this trade
So after that, our ace would be…. oh boy
Take the Yankees off that list. They would NEVER add Pavano to their roster again.
Let me translate for Pavano: “PLEAAAAASE trade for me!!!”
Totally forgot that he will make $5.5M now. With that in mind, you can bet Shapiro is burning up the phones. If their revised attendance projection was 1.8M before Lee and Vic were traded, have to wonder if it needs major further revision. What about Kerry Wood – wouldn’t the Yankees like him at the back of the pen for one and a half years and $15M?
Too bad the empty plastic seats at Regressive don’t make a good rally “bang” like the old Municipal Stadium seats.
Deal him! He’s gone after this season anyway and who wouldn’t love more pitching prospects?(joking) Plus, start figuring out who’s capable of making the upgrade from the minors to becoming a full-time starter now, as oppose to next year. What a concept…
I say make the move. Though we’re likely to get the proverbial “bucket of balls” in return (just like we got last year for Byrd), it would be nice to clear a rotation spot so that we can give Tomo Ohka another chance in the rotation after his great relief outing this weekend.
(P.S. – I couldn’t keep a straight face as I wrote that last part)
There’s not a single legitimate contender that would give up a baked potato for this stiff. Nobody wants the tab on his contract either. This guy adds nothing to any playoff contender’s run.
Try as Shapiro has been over the past few months, Larry and Paulie are stuck with this tab.
didn’t we get nothing for paul byrd? literally nothing??
Does anybody know where Pluto has been (I don’t mean the planet as I just passed it in the Falcon on my way home)? As much as I count on and appreciate wfny for real Cleveland sports news out here in SoCal, I am still missing Pluto’s take on what’s been happening to this team….
RE: Pavano…I would say probably one of Shapiros better low-risk-high-reward projects that actually did work. Taking out those few stinkers he seems to be a reliable 3rd or 4th which should be worth at least a utility infielder. I’m not sure it makes up for the DD, Jason Michaels, Kerry Wood signings, but nonetheless, give credit where it is due.
My question here is why the Dodgers weren’t more heavily involved in this year’s trades? After the fleecing that we handed them last summer, wouldn’t their interest in Lee and Victor push them to the front of the line? Couldn’t we have gotten every top 10 prospect they had left for those two guys? Look what they were willing to give up for Casey Blake!
@10 – Didn’t you hear? Pluto is no longer a journalist. He has been regulated to dwarf journalist
@#9
I think you’re pretty close to right there. I think we may have gotten a PTBNL, but I remember Shapiro saying that it was nearly all about cutting salary. Wonder why he can’t say that now…