Pavano's Mustache Will Keep Him Warm in Minnesota

It's official. Carl Pavano has decided to stay with the Minnesota Twins.

The two sides agreed to terms Wednesday on a two-year contract worth $16.5 million. Until today, the 35-year-old mustachioed righty was one of only a handful of decent starters remaining on the free agent market.

The Sexytime Pornvano Stache

We're fairly certain Carl Pavano's mustache has magical powers.

The Minnesota Twins right-hander, who is now 9-6 with a 3.33 ERA on the season, three-hit the Mets Saturday afternoon for a 6-0 shutout in his second consecutive complete game.

You may also find his two hits and sacrifice impressive, which helped to end the Twins' four-game skid.

On the other side of the ball, former Twin and adulterer Johan Santana struggled early. Joe Mauer, Jason Kubel and Delmon Young all drove in runs in the first by laying off that sneaky changeup. Denard Span added an RBI double in the fourth before Kubel homered off Fernando Nieve in the ninth to hand the Mets just their third loss in 16 games at Citi Field this season.

Thank you, Sexytime Pornvano Stache.

[MLB] | [Twinkie Town] | [Knuckleballs Blog]

Carl Pavano May Need Surgery

Carl Pavano has gone from enjoying the prestigious role of New York Yankees' Opening Day Starter to sitting on the DL - the possibility of surgery looming.

And for $40 million clams, all the Bronx Bombers may get out of the once-promising pitcher is a handful of mediocre starts... even though that may seem like pennies compared to what they plan to shell out for the services of The Rocket for the remainder of this season.

Mike Mussina Returns to Yankees Rotation

After placing their seventh pitcher - prized rookie Phil Hughes - on the disabled list Thursday, the New York Yankees will bring up right-handers Darrell Rasner and Matt DeSalvo to fill the gaping holes in their rotation for the upcoming weekend series against the Seattle Mariners.

This move may make history - becoming the first club in big league history to use 10 starters in its first 30 games.

Rasner is scheduled to make his fourth start Sunday, with DeSalvo making his major league debut in Monday's series finale.

Phil Hughes to Make Early Start For Yankees

Phil Hughes will be making his major league debut a bit earlier than expected. The day after finding themselves swept by the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankee said they plan on having their top pitching prospect start Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

With the the Yankees dropping to four games behind the AL East-leading Sox, the 20-year-old righty has compiled a 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA in three starts with AAA Scranton, pitching six shutout innings last Wednesday at Syracuse where he allowed just two hits, struck out 10 and walked none.

According to Elias, the Yankees haven't started a pitcher this young since Jose Rijo pitched as an 18- and 19-year-old in 1984.

The Disabled Yankees List

The New York Yankees' starting five just got a little bit worse. Carl Pavano has landed back on the disabled list, along with teammate Mike Mussina.

Pavano and Moose were placed on the 15-day DL before Sunday's game at Oakland. Pavano went down with a right forearm strain and Mussina with a left hamstring injury.

Pavano's injury-ridden past had been the target of media spotlight this spring, with many wondering if he could come back and produce after two seasons away from the game. There's your answer, people. He is 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA in two starts this time around.

Carl Pavano Gets the Ball on Opening Day

Carl Pavano is pumped. Not only because he has been considered for the New York Yankees' Opening Day starter, but that he's actually pitching, at all.

Due to a variety of injuries, Pavano has made only 17 starts in the first two years of his four-year, $39.95 million contract with the Yankees. He hasn't pitched in the big leagues since June of 2005, forcing Bronx Bomber fans to question his desire and elasticity. In fact, they'd rather see anyone but Pavano pitch Opening Day, although he's had a good spring thus far.

With Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte both hurt last week, Pavano has the chance to make his glorious, long-awaited return on Opening Day. He is scheduled to make his final spring training start Tuesday against Minnesota, which sets him up for the Devil Rays game with an extra day of rest.

Teammate Jason Giambi knows what it's like to have to pick yourself up and dust off...

I hope he embraces it. This is a chance for him to stand up front and just show everyone the kind of pitcher he is. I'm excited for him, and I hope he's excited about it if he gets that opportunity. This is a big chance for him.

There's a sliver of a chance that Pettitte could pitch the opener, but he has been out for a week with back spasms, penciled in for a bullpen session Monday. He says he's feeling better, but manager Joe Torre doesn't expect him to pitch until Friday, leaving him not exactly enough time between starts to pitch the Opener.

Wang, who will the start the season on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring, made 70 throws in the outfield - some from about 120 feet. Last year's 19-game winner is expected to be out until at least late April.

[Newsday] | [River Ave. Blues]

Carl Pavano Misses Spring Start to Save Girlfriend

New York Yankees pitcher Carl Pavano claims he missed his scheduled spring training start last Friday, not because of his own injury, but to tend to a "severe medical situation" involving his girlfriend. Pavano didn't give the specifics, but says his ladyfriend is doing well.

Chivalry, it seems, is not dead after all.

The right-hander left Legends Field about 45 minutes before Friday's game after Joe Torre told him to. He came back on Saturday to throw a 45-pitch bullpen session in preparation for his Monday night start against the Boston Red Sox.

Pavano has made only one spring start since bruising his left instep on a line drive during batting practice. Twinkletoes hasn't actually pitched in the majors since June of 2005, due to rib, shoulder, back, elbow and butt injuries.

[Hartford Courant]

Johnny Damon Returns To Camp

Johnny Damon rejoined the Yankees at Legends Field on Monday after a two-day excused absence to tend to what he described as a personal matter.

The center fielder spent the weekend at home with his family in the Orlando area, but wouldn't discuss the specifics, because "the issue has been resolved... everything is great." He did let on that it did not involve his father or baby girl, who was born in January. He eluded:

Fortunately, a little personal matter that I had take to care of was in February and not in June or July or anytime during the season. I feel a lot better today than a couple days ago. Something was worrying me and I took care of it. It's a non-issue now.

Seriously? What, are you in the mob now? Damon did receive permission to leave after talking with GM Brian Cashman and manager Joe Torre following Friday's workout. He says that he feels like a stronger person because those two days were apparently key to keeping his mind clear. He says it's all about baseball now.

Carl Pavano Injury Update: The MRI exam and X-rays taken Sunday on the right-hander's injured left foot showed a bone bruise from being nailed by a liner during Saturday's batting practice. He says he feels a little stiff, but that it's nothing to worry about.

[ESPN]

Carl Pavano, Mariano Rivera Injury Updates

After being nailed in the left foot by an Alberto Gonzalez liner on Saturday, Yankees pitcher Carl Pavano had an MRI exam and X-rays taken Sunday on his injured left foot. The team hasn't immediately released the results, but Pavano said afterward that he wasn't concerned since the tests were simply a precautionary measure. He continued to throw pitched after being hit, and doesn't seem at all concerned about a return to the mound.

Pavano didn't participate in on-field drills, but he did undergo treatment like icing and elevating. It's pretty up in the air if the right-hander will pitch in Tuesday's intrasquad game or not.

"Hopefully he doesn't fall behind significantly. It's not going to matter if he misses a day or so. I'm sure it's sore. We'll have to wait and see," manager Joe Torre said.

Pavano, going into the third season of a four-year contract, hasn't pitched in the majors since June 27, 2005, due to a variety of injuries.

Also, thanks to Sam for this tidbit of information: closer Mariano Rivera threw 32 pitches during his second BP session, adding a huge smile after Robinson Cano whiffed his last pitch. The righty told the New York Times that he won't sign with the Bronx Bombers' archrivals in Boston, considering the teams' fierce rivalry. So, you can quit drooling now, Red Sox fans.

In other Yankees news, center fielder Johnny Damon, who left spring training camp for what he stated as a personal matter, is expected to return as soon as Monday after missing two days of workouts. Right-handed pitcher Humberto Sanchez threw BP after his regular session had been pushed back one day due to mild tightness in his right forearm. Reliever Brian Bruney will be shutdown for four or five days with back problems and lefty pitcher Ben Kozlowski will not throw for a couple days due to issues with his side.

[CBS Sportsline] | [ESPN]