Ron Gardenhire glad to see Carl Pavano back with the squad
The chase for the right set of players in the free market seems to be coming to a close in major league baseball. Some of the best stars in the game have moved across the country in the offseason period. The likes of Carl Crawford,
Jayson Werth, Adrian Beltre and Cliff Lee have shifted their homes to accommodate for their playtime and financial ventures. In the case of Carl Pavano, the situation was not any different.
Pavano scored the headlines recently when he shifted back to his club, the Minnesota Twins. Although the veteran pitcher had the chance to make his move to the New York Yankees following a suit from the Yank’s General Manager,
Brian Cashman, he did not. The player would have joined a rotation that was starring Carsten Charles Sabathia, Allan James Burnett and Phil Hughes. However, one of the top concerns would have been his playing time at the club.
The 35-year-old player wanted a long-term contract and that is something the Minnesota Twins were more than willing to compromise on. Manager Ron Gardenhire, who was declared the American League’s best manager for 2010, was available
to comment on the player.
"He gave me an ulcer by not signing earlier," Gardenhire said with a laugh.
With the return of Pavano, the Twins have been granted a huge bonus to their rotation that needs the necessary push to fend off competition from American League Central’s clubs. The need for improvement is paramount at the club,
but it has to be seen as to how that will happen in the coming days. The race to the finish line has not even begun, but the stage is set for the contest to take off.
Pavano was incredible, to say the least, when he took on the star pitcher’s role in 2010. He pitched an earning runs average of 3.75, and piled up on 17 wins to back his credentials for a return at the club. He will be playing
for another year after 2011 and his gross salary would be $16.5 million.
"I think they know how hungry we are," Gardenhire said of (Jim) Thome and Pavano. "I think every year they've seen that we have a chance, and I think they loved being a part of it. It's a fun ballclub. We have a good time, and
everybody that's been around our ballclub sees that. As a manager, you're proud of that because guys do want to play for you and guys do want to come back. That's a tribute to the organization and the coaching staff and all the players that are here."
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