All Things Bubba

Grrr. I wanted to use another word, one that was more, er, alliterative, but this is a family blog.

You know, I've never been one of those who constantly hate on Carl Pavano. Yeah, I joke about him now and then, but hey, I pick on everyone (even my beloved Bubba sometimes). The Pavano saga has been frustrating, but I thought he might genuinely have had some bad luck, injury-wise, and was hoping he'd come back and show 'em all.

Now this. The Yankees made their offer to Pavano yesterday. They offered him all the money he is owed, and use of their facilities to rehab his elbow, and asked him to sign a minor league contract. His reply? "I'd be giving up a lot of options if I signed a minor league deal."

That's right. The guy who has sucked up $40 million of the Yankees' money to sit on the DL for three years won't do the right thing and let the Yankees release him to clear roster space. The Yankees could release him anyway, but probably won't, if he won't accept a minor league contract. Pete Abe says it's because the Yankees won't get the insurance money if he doesn't stay with the organization.

This is unbelievable. Pavano had Tommy John surgery this year. There is no way he can come back in 2008 and pitch. He's not losing anything by signing a minor league deal with the Yankees. And he owes them, big-time. You'd think the least he could do would be to take the minor league deal and let the Yankees use his roster spot for someone else.

He might still do that. But good gravy. I can't believe he even has to think about it.