Indians’ Pavano getting fresh start

The former Yankee is penciled in as Cleveland’s No. 3 starter.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Carl Pavano left Cleveland’s training complex a few days ago wearing a black Rolling Stones’ T-shirt with the iconic protruding-tongue logo on the front.

No, it wasn’t a message directed at the Yankees or New York’s media.

But Pavano, a monumental free-agent bust in New York where he spent most of four years on the disabled list, being disparaged by teammates who questioned his heart and work ethic and ridiculed in the tabloids, is glad to be out of pinstripes that at times felt like striped prison garb.

He’s been reborn with the Indians.

“It’s a new start,” he said Wednesday.

Pavano signed a one-year $1.5 million deal with Cleveland in January, and although the 33-year-old with a history of elbow problems has made just 26 starts since 2005, he was immediately penciled in as the Indians’ No. 3 starter behind AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona. Not bad for a guy dubbed “American Idle” in New York for his inability to stay healthy or live up to enormous expectations attached to a four-year, $40 million contract.

Signed by the Yankees after winning 18 games for Florida in 2004, Pavano had his first season in New York cut short after 17 games because of shoulder tendinitis. In 2006, he missed training camp with a bad back, began the season on the DL with more shoulder trouble and then had elbow surgery.

During rehab, he broke two ribs in a car accident and hid the injury from the Yankees.

He started on opening day for New York in 2007, but made just one more appearance before being sidelined with forearm tightness and eventually underwent reconstructive elbow surgery. He missed New York’s first 128 games last season but made seven starts after Aug. 23.

The strong finish wasn’t enough to satisfy the Yankees, who released Pavano in November.

“I failed miserably for four years on a big stage, which was no fun,” he said. “I just kept my mouth shut and kept plugging away. I took a lot of abuse, which I’m happy is all in the past.”