Bringing Vasquez back didn’t get Cashman any points in the Universe. It took nerve but with Vasquez, aside from the fact that he clearly wanted to be a Yankee and unlike Pavano gave it everything he had, he was a one year deal. To sign Pavano the Yankees would need to cough up a three year deal in the $25-35 mill range. That contract goes south and Brian might need to tune up his resume.

In the end baseball is a results orientated business. If Pavano wins, all will be forgotten if not forgiven. If he folds up like a cheap card table, like last time, it will be a disaster that will not go unpunished. Whether the Yankees do anything with Pavano will be driven by their options and be an indicator of just how confident they feel in Burnett.