Report: Pavano ruptures spleen during snowy fall

Free-agent right-hander Carl Pavano ruptured his spleen in a fall while shoveling snow in the driveway of his home in Vermont and will need six to eight weeks to recover, FOXSports.com reported.

With training camps set to open in a few weeks, Pavano has yet to sign with a team for 2013 and won't be ready for the start of spring training if a suitor comes calling.

The injury-plagued pitcher made only 11 starts for the Minnesota Twins last season because of a bone bruise and sore right shoulder, going 2-5 with a 6.00 ERA. The previous season, Pavano struggled to a 9-13 record with a 4.30 ERA.

Two teams that had shown interest in the 37-year-old Pavano during the offseason appear to have backed off. The New York Mets signed pitcher Shaun Marcum on Thursday and the Colorado Rockies are no longer pursuing him, according to the Denver Post.