MLB: Pavano has spleen removed
Carl Pavano’s spleen was removed last week after the former Yankee pitcher was injured when he fell in the snow. The 37-year-old right-hander was hurt in mid-January at his home in Vermont and has been in a Connecticut hospital for nearly two weeks.
“He lost a lot of blood. It was very, very serious,” agent David Pepe said yesterday.
Pepe said Pavano didn’t think he was seriously injured after the fall, then didn’t feel well following a workout a few days later in Connecticut.
“He felt bad enough that he went to the hospital and he ended up getting admitted, and they realized he had a lacerated spleen,” Pepe said. “They tried to control the bleeding. They did all they could to not take it out and, unfortunately, he didn’t stop bleeding and he’s been in the hospital since.”
Pepe hopes Pavano will be released from the hospital this week. He would not put a timetable on the free agent’s possible return to baseball.
* Infielder Ronny Cedeno has agreed to a $1.15 million, one-year contract with the Cardinals, giving them insurance in case shortstop Rafael Furcal has problems returning from an elbow injury.
* A person familiar with the deal says the Phillies have signed reliever Chad Durbin to a one-year contract.
NFL: Ratliff’s booze level elevated
Police say Cowboys defensive lineman Jay Ratliff had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit the night he was arrested after a car accident. Grapevine police yesterday said Ratliff’s blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.16 percent. Texas’ drunken-driving standard is 0.08 percent.
Ratliff was arrested last week after a late-night accident.
* The Jaguars hired Todd Wash as defensive line coach, Luke Butkus as assistant offensive line coach and Tony Sorrentino as offensive quality control coach; the Panthers hired Ken Dorsey as quarterbacks coach, Jim Skipper as running backs coach and Al Holcomb as linebackers coach.
ETC.: Adelman back with ’Wolves
Coach Rick Adelman has returned to the Minnesota Timberwolves after spending three weeks with his ailing wife. Adelman ran practice and said he planned to be on the sideline vs. the Clippers tomorrow.
* Former boxing champ Vinny Paz pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor vandalism and disorderly conduct charges after allegedly refusing to pay his bill at a Warwick (R.I.) bar and smashing two bar stools.
* The Big East conference is looking to add another school, and may sign a TV package that includes multiple networks, commissioner Mike Aresco said.