An eighth round pick by San Diego in 2001, Pauley posted a 7–12 record with a 4.17 ERA for the Padres' A-class affiliate, the Lake Elsinore Storm, as their seventh best prospect in 2004.

On December 20, 2004, the Padres traded Pauley along with Jay Payton, Ramón Vázquez, and cash to the Boston Red Sox for Dave Roberts.

[4] In January 2009, Pauley was designated for assignment in order to make room for the newly signed John Smoltz.

[8] On July 30, 2011, Pauley was traded to the Detroit Tigers along with Doug Fister for Charlie Furbush, Casper Wells, Chance Ruffin and minor leaguer Francisco Martinez.

[16] On June 10, 2013, Pauley signed a minor-league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks and was assigned to Triple-A Reno.

[18] On July 25, 2013, Pauley signed with the independent Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Pauley is a sinkerball pitcher,[20] and as such his success relies on his ability to keep the ball down in the strike zone, and when contact is made, to get ground-ball outs.

[citation needed] His fastball hits the high 80 MPH range and his curveball has more of a sweeping motion than the standard 12-to-6 movement seen from most minor-league pitchers.