Believe it or not, Yanks pursued Pavano

In what could possibly have been the worst idea for a reunion since The Backstreet Boys got back together, general manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday that he had "several conversations'' with the agent for free-agent pitcher Carl Pavano about a return to the Yankees.

Cashman said the talks were not fruitful and he no longer was engaged in discussions about Pavano, though he didn't say why.

That point became moot last night when the Twins announced they had reached agreement with the righthander on a two-year, $16.5 million contract.

Still, the idea of Cashman revisiting one of the most disastrous free-agent signings of his tenure is a shocker.

According to a source, the talks went far enough and there was enough back and forth that money was discussed for a one-year deal, although no official offer was extended and Cashman never brought the matter to ownership. Both sides eventually got cold feet, however.

Pavano spent four injury-plagued years with the Yankees, appearing in only 26 games, for which he was paid nearly $40 million. He earned the nickname "American Idle'' for his frequent trips to the disabled list.

Pavano has rehabilitated his image since leaving the Yankees and went 17-11 with the Twins last year.

Cashman always has maintained that Pavano was just not healthy enough to perform as a Yankee.

"I've always felt Pav could pitch here,'' Cashman said. "I think that he's shown he can pitch in difficult circumstances. Bottom line, when he's healthy he can pitch . . . I don't think he was afraid of coming back here.''

The Yankees are in the market for a starting pitcher because of the continued absence of Andy Pettitte, who may or may not be retiring. Joe Girardi, who said he talked to Pettitte last week, said Pettitte has started throwing and working out at his Houston-area home, which tea-leaf readers could interpret as a good sign for the Yankees.

"I believe he is throwing,'' the manager said. "He wants to be prepared, whatever his decision is . . . Basically, the advice that I've given him is: 'Just think about it, talk to your wife about it.' There's no rush, there really isn't, because he is training.''

Cashman, who refused to say if he has spoken to Pettitte, repeated his core answer when asked about the lefthander: "He's not in play."

Said Cashman: "He's not open to persuasion. He's made a decision and it's more about if he changes his mind. I don't want to change someone's heart. He knows at the same time how dedicated, how committed, how much effort it takes. His heart has got to be in it, he's got to be all in. And if it's not, then it's in everybody's best interest for him not to play, including himself. Only he can make that decision.''

One decision Cashman and Girardi have made and are sticking to is keeping Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen, even though at the moment the Yankees have two rotation openings and Rafael Soriano and Mariano Rivera at the back of the bullpen.

"Joba's a bullpen guy," Cashman said. "For the 200th time."