NEW YORK -- All that remains between Carl Pavano and reconstructive elbow surgery is permission from the New York Yankees.
The pitcher is awaiting word from the team on whether he can go ahead with an operation that would sideline him for most if not all of what remains on his $39.95 million, four-year contract.
Pavano believes surgery is the only way to repair his elbow, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has been awaiting written diagnoses from the three specialists who looked at the 31-year-old right-hander's arm.
"We've received all the written reports from all the doctors that examined Carl over the several weeks," Pavano's agent, Gregg Clifton, said Tuesday. "I'll be reaching out to Brian tomorrow in an effort to get all of us moving in the same direction with regard to Carl and the proper steps for his recovery."
Pavano, who hasn't pitched since April 9, has seen Yankees physician Dr. Stuart Hershon, New York Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek, Dr. James Andrews and Los Angeles Angels medical director Dr. Lewis Yocum. Reconstructive surgery to replace his elbow ligament would sideline Pavano for at least a year and possibly until the 2009 season.
Since signing with the Yankees as a free agent before the 2005 season, Pavano is 5-7 in 19 starts, including 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA in two starts this year. He was sidelined from June 27, 2005, through the 2006 season by shoulder, back, buttocks, elbow and rib injuries and then returned this year. He felt forearm soreness during a win at Minnesota on April 9, an injury the Yankees didn't originally think was serious.
Pavano still has not held a formal meeting with the Yankees over his initial failure last year to tell the team about rib injuries sustained in an auto accident.
He's managed to figure out a way to collect money without working for the rest of '07, PLUS the entirety of '08.
If I were the Yankees, I'd try to void his contract based upon the non-disclosure of the auto accident last season. After all, they axed Aaron Boone for playing pickup basketball...
