Carl Pavano got the true Yankees experience yesterday. It started with a reminder of what kind of organization he has the chance to be a part of.
Pavano, who ranks alongside Pedro Martinez as the top free-agent pitcher on the market, visited the Yankees yesterday along with his agent, Scott Shapiro. Though Pavano has toured several AL cities so far, the Yankees’ winning tradition certainly made a unique impression.
“Obviously, it’s the New York Yankees, so it’s different,” Pavano told The Post outside Yankee Stadium yesterday. “We went out to the field and I looked back at 26 world championships. So that’s obviously different.
“Everyone has a little bit different to offer, but the Yankees, obviously, what that city has to offer, what the team has to offer, it’s totally in a different class. So it was a good experience. I’m excited to see what kind of things that we’re going to have to deal with.”
The 28-year-old, who went 18-8 with 3.00 ERA this past year with the Marlins, was in Detroit on Friday and arrived in New York at 9 o’clock that night. That set up his busy Saturday.
Yesterday morning, the Yankees picked up Pavano and Shapiro and brought them to the Stadium at approximately 10:45. From there, the two met with Yankees GM Brian Cashman, assistant GM Jean Afterman and other personnel, getting a feel for the organization.
“It was more for him,” Cashman said. “He wants to assess each market, get a chance to meet some people. He will leave here with a better knowledge of the Yankee organization.”
The talented right-hander chatted with most of the core people he would deal with on a regular basis should he don the Pinstripes.
“I talked to Jean and Cash and had a good conversation,” he said. “I got to know some of the guys that are going to be around the clubhouse. I talked to the trainers, the strength coach, the guys who are part of all the video and all that, just to get familiar with the type of atmosphere they’re trying to build.
“It’s obviously the atmosphere they have, so I was just trying to meet some of the personnel and get a feeling for some of the personalities and all that. It was good.”
The sides met for approximately three hours, but neither Cashman nor Pavano would reveal whether an offer was made (“I wouldn’t say,” Cashman said). Pavano, Shapiro, Cashman, Afterman and team president Randy Levine then were set to go to dinner at a Manhattan restaurant before taking in a Broadway performance of “Mamma Mia.”
Next up for Pavano? More visits. He and Shapiro will leave for Baltimore this afternoon before heading to Seattle and Anaheim this week.
Yes, Pavano will have plenty of options. But it’s safe to say the Yankees will be one he considers.
“That’s why I’m here,” he said. “All the teams I’m going to visit are huge possibilities of retaining my services, so we’ll see what happens.”
Additional reporting by George King.