quite possibly the worst signing of free agent era

carl pavano ... during his minor league days with the boston red sox ... carl pavano and brian rose were talked about in the same terms as we talked about jonathan papelbon and jon lester just three years ago ... the same terms we talk about clay buchholz (in spite of his recent struggles) and justin masterson and michael bowden and daniel bard today ... carl pavano was the local kid from stonington, connecticut ... he was considered the prized prospect at pawtucket ... valued enough the red sox were able to trade pavano and a truckload of fenway franks to montreal for pedro martinez ... that was back in november, 1997

carl pavano became a free agent following the 2004 season ... after what was alleged to be a spirited courtship and bidding war between the new york yankees and boston red sox ... remember curt schilling taking pavano out to medfield for a family dinner with lots of red sox talk ... ultimately, carl signed a 4-year, $40 million dollar contract with the yankees ... in doing so, pavano allegedly turned down a more lucrative offer from the red sox ... for which red sox fans should be forever thankful ... thank you to pavano's wife for pushing him to sign with her yankees ... thank you joe torre for all the personal phone calls to carl and family that convinced him the yankees should be his choice ... the huge bouquet of roses for pavano's wife at carl's first ny press conference was an awesome touch joe

in his first year as a yankees starting pitcher ... carl pavano actually pitched in a few games ... he started 17 games ... the results <> 4-6 won-loss record <> 4.77 era ... then he was injured <> right shoulder tendinitis <> 15 disabled list <> 60 day disabled list <> gone for the season

carl's second yankees season was no season at all ... he was placed on the 15 day disabled list before opening day with a "back strain" ... from that point ... this was one of the most bazaar, under the radar extended disabled list stays i can remember ... pavano rehabbed twice from injury ... was recalled to ny twice ... never made a major league appearance ... and eventually landed on the 60 day disabled list ... and to this day i have no clue what the injuries were that kept him from pitching for an entire season

in 2007 ... carl pavano made 2 starts ... the results <> 1-0 won-loss record <> 4.77 era ... then he was injured ... again ... right elbow surgery ... out for the season

about now you are probably asking why i am going on about carl pavano ... fair question ... i mean, it's now 2008 ... carl pavano is in the last year of his 4-year, $40 million grand theft of monies from the yankees ... the 2008 baseball season is nearing its end ... the yankees are slowly, painfully fading from contention ... the owners son, his hankness, has thrown in the towel on the season with his words ... the general manager, brian cashman, has thrown in the towel with his actions (aquiring iroid and passing on paul byrd) ... and carl pavano has not been healthy enough to pitch a single inning for new york this season ... well, guess what ... the new york yankees today announced that carl pavano will make his 2008 season debut on saturday, august 23rd against the baltimore orioles at camden yard

help me come up with another big money signing during the free agency era in baseball as bad as this one has turned out to be ... so far