Cleveland Signs Carl Pavano; 1B Michael Aubrey DFA

post from The Tribe Time Report on 06 January 2009 04:45:00 PM. © The Tribe Time Report

*Updated 4:45 PM: Looks like the deal is for just $1.5 Million Guaranteed, but he can earn up to $5.3 Million based on incentives.. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that those incentives can only be reached if he stays healthy and pitches VERY Good. Or else Shapiro wouldn't be investing that kind of potential money in him.

Pavano has a spot at the start of the year in the rotation IF he is healthy, according to Castrovince.

*Updated 3:33 PM: Michael Aubrey is the casualty in this deal. Later Aubrey.. Too bad it wasn't Mujica.

How's that Jordan Brown saving look like now? Really worked out for the Tribe in the end. Kept their guy and didn't have to add him to the 40 man.

*Updated About a Minute Later: The Cleveland Indians have signed Carl Pavano... Anthony Castrovince with the goods.

No financial deals available, it is a one year deal with no option and it will be announced this afternoon.

Begin 40 man removal speculation.. Barfield trade or Eddie Mujica? My money and my hopes are on Mujica.

2:49 PM: Word is that Carl Pavano is seeking one of those one year shots with a team and that the Tribe is the favorite at this point in time.

I'm shocked... to be quite honest...

I highlighted him as a possibility, but if he's seeking a Major League deal with any sort of chunk of change, there might be more to this than just a free agent signing.

I'd be for it and was at the time I mentioned it.. But the money we've dished out so far.. A one year deal around 2 million doesn't seem like much, but I had the impression Shapiro didn't have any sort of wiggle room to make a move like this... Via MLBTR, ESPN Guys Jerry Crasnick and Buster Olney say that Pavano would want a deal similar to Mike Hampton's with Houston. Which was a one year, 2 million dollar agreement.

That's just guarenteed.. A guy like Pavano probably would have incentives in his deal.

Joe Fissaro of MLB.com says the Indians are in 'serious talks' with Pavano's agent and that the Indians are the 'clear frontrunner' for his services. Florida is in the mix as well.

Honestly... I have no problem bringing in a one year shot like Pavano, in fact I'd prefer it. I just didn't think it would be on a major league deal. I'm not sure how I'll feel if it's on a 2 million a year type thing, but my first instincts are to just hit myself in the head with a frying pan because I don't know what to think.

Freddy Garcia in my mind is worth a 1 year 2 million dollar risk(what little of a risk it is).. I don't know if Pavano is..

I'm pleasntly surprised here that something like this is possible, because as I've mentioned endlessly since the DeRosa deal came down, I didn't think it was possible given the "resources" that Shapiro has used up.

One thing I want to make you aware of that I've been hearing a lot of from the talking heads like Bruce Drennan... They think a Barfield deal is possible.. Which has very little salary impact.. But I would NOT be shocked if this is a prelude to a Kelly Shoppach deal. That guy is going to take up some cash in arbitration and maybe they'd rather use that cash on Pavano and trade Shoppach.. Just saying is all... That's what I think when I hear

The Indians are close to signing Carl Pavano...

We've used up all our resources, we'll have to be creative from here on out...

Kelly Shoppach is at maximum value...

More as this comes in, as always.