Pavano Traded To Twins

Right-hander Carl Pavano joined the veteran player exit from the Cleveland Indians' clubhouse Friday when he was traded to the Minnesota Twins for a player to be named. Pavano cleared waivers and the Tribe and Twins were then able to fashion a post-trading deadline swap. Before the deadline a week ago, Cleveland dealt Ryan Garko, Cliff Lee, Ben Francisco and Victor Martinez for several prospects.

Left-hander reliever Rafael Perez was recalled from Triple-A Columbus to take Pavano's roster spot. Right-hander Justin Masterson, acquired from Boston in the Martinez trade, will move from the bullpen into Cleveland's starting rotation.

General manager Mark Shapiro said the deal was more about creating an opportunity in the rotation for some of the organization's young prospects rather than getting yet another player with great potential. He would not comment on the player the Indians will receive. Cleveland has until Sept. 15 to select a player from an agreed-upon list.

"This is more about us being able to see some of our young pitchers," Shapiro said. "We had approximately six starters for four or five spots.

"Let me comment on what Carl Pavano brought to the club. He was an outstanding teammate and extremely hard worker. In light of the adversity and challenges he's had to overcome in recent years, we were appreciative of him both as a person and as a player during his time here."

Pzvano signed a one-year, incentive-laden contract as a free agent in January after being sidelined with a variety of injuries for most of the previous three seasons.

In 21 starts, the 33-year-old went 9-8 with a 5.37 ERA.

"Carl was a consistent performer for us," Shapiro said, adding that any waiver deal for the veteran had to be consummated now.

Shapiro explained that once Pavano cleared waivers, had the Indians pulled back on that offer, the right-hander could not be put back on waivers for the purpose of any other trade. Essentially, it was a case of taking the Twins' offer or not getting anything later.

Minnesota is in dire need of starting pitchers. Right-hander Kevin Slowey recently had season-ending wrist surgery, right-hander Boof Bonser has missed the entire season after shoulder surgery, and lefties Francisco Liriano and Glen Perkins have has struggled to a records of 4-11 with a 5.63 ERA and 6-7 and 5.95 ERA, respectively.

The Twins hope Pavano can ease the burden on their over-taxed bullpen. He pitched six or more innings in 14 of his 21 starts for the Indians.

Perez will begin his third stint with the Indians this season. At Columbus this year he is 1-0 with three saves and an 0.83 ERA. In 21 2-3 innings with the Clippers, he has walked only five and struck out 23.

Expected to be a key setup reliever in Cleveland this year after two good seasons in the Tribe bullpen, Perez really struggled with the Indians earlier in the year. In 31 appearances, he went 1-2 with an 8.888 ERA, allowing 37 hits and 18 walks in 24 1-3 innings with 21 strikeouts.

Shapiro said that right-handers Carlos Carrasco, acquired in the deal that sent Lee and Francisco to Philadelphia, and Hector Rondon, signed and developed by the Indians, could be among those given a chance in Cleveland's rotation later this season.