Florida / Miami Marlins All-Time Top 30 Players

25. Carl Pavano (8.1)

Carl Pavano was a 6-foot-5, 265 lb. right-handed starter from New Britain, CT. Born on January 8th, 1976, he was initially drafted in the 13th round of the 1994 MLB Amateur Entry Draft by the Boston Red Sox.

Before making his way to the majors, Pavano along with Tony Armas Jr., was traded to the Montreal Expos for Pedro Martinez. Pavano made his major league debut with Montreal on May 23rd, 1998, pitching seven innings and allowing the Philadelphia Phillies only one run on three hits.

Eventually, Pavano played four-and-a-half seasons with the Expos, going 24-35 with a 4.83 ERA over 78 starts. He closed the Canadian leg of his career with a 1.440 WHIP and 304 whiffs in 452 2/3 innings. Nearing the 2002 trade deadline, Pavano, along with Graeme Lloyd, Mike Mordecai, Justin Wayne, and Don Levinski were traded to Florida for Cliff Floyd, Wilton Guerrero, and Claudio Vargas.

Down the stretch for the 2002 Marlins, Pavano went 3-2 in 22 appearances, including eight starts. He logged a 3.79 ERA. He made 32 turns in the rotation in 2003, when he was 12-13 with a 4.30 ERA. He pitched in another eight games in the postseason, going 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings.

2004 would be Pavano’s best season in the majors, and his lone all-star invitation. He went 18-8 and posted a career-low 3.00 ERA while striking out 139 in 222 1/3 innings. His 1.174 WHIP was also the best mark of his career. Granted free agency after the season, Pavano signed a contract with the New York Yankees.

Pavano played three seasons for the Bombers, later playing most of 2009 with the Cleveland Indians and three-and-a-half seasons with the Minnesota Twins.