Indians Confidential

The Cleveland Indians today signed RHP CARL PAVANO to a one-year free agent Major League contract for the 2009 season.

Pavano, who turns 33 on Thursday, owns a career Major League record of 66-66 with a 4.32 ERA in 193 games/175 starts (1083.1IP, 1167H, 520ER, 301BB, 692K) over 10 Major League seasons with the Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins & New York Yankees. His best season came in 2004 with the Marlins when he went 18-8 w/a 3.00ERA in 31 starts (2SHO, 222.1IP, 212H, 74ER, 49BB, 139K).

He finished 2nd in the National League in wins, 7th in ERA and was named a NL All-Star and finished 6th in the Cy Young balloting at the conclusion of that season. He was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1994 (13th round) and was later traded to the Expos in November 1997 in a deal that sent Pedro Martinez to Boston.

He signed a 4-year free agent Major League contract with the New York Yankees in December of 2004. Carl finished the 2008 season in the New York Yankees rotation, making 7 starts to finish out the campaign on a healthy note (4-2, 5.77ERA, 34.1IP, 41H, 22ER, 10BB, 15K). The New Britain, Connecticut native had reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in June of 2007 after making his first career Opening Day start for the Yankees on April 2, 2007 and spent the first 4 months of the 2008 season rehabbing from that procedure.

To make room for Pavano on the 40-man roster the Indians will designate INF MICHAEL AUBREY for assignment.