SATURDAY: Padilla is getting closer to a deal with Boston, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
THURSDAY: Despite the report that the Red Sox are “moving toward a deal” with Padilla, the Red Sox are merely “talking to [Padilla] among others” and there is “nothing to report” about the team’s interest, a major league source told Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Padilla would be fit the mold of a buy-low pitcher for Boston and an industry source tells Speier that the right-hander is "healthy and throwing hard".
3:22pm: The Red Sox and Padilla are moving toward a deal, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets.
12:28pm: Two days after signing Aaron Cook, the Red Sox are scouting another low-risk righty looking to rebound from injury. Vicente Padilla took leave of his native Nicaraguan winter league yesterday in order to fly to Boston, where he will be checked over today by team doctors, reports Francisco Jarquín Soto at the Nicaraguan paper El Nuevo Diario.
Padilla made only nine appearances for the Dodgers in 2011, all in relief, before neck problems ended his season in June. He also briefly took over the closer's job from Jonathan Broxton, though in recent years the 34-year-old has been a swingman and spot starter (he thrived in the role as recently as 2010). He has reportedly been hitting 95-96 mph with his fastball this winter in Nicaragua, and has said he wants to fight for a rotation spot. Seeing as the Red Sox have no shortage of hard-throwing righties in their revamped pen, Padilla could get his wish if his health permits.
start_wearing_purple
All beer and fried chicken jokes aside, part of the problem for the Sox last year was clubhouse issues… isn’t Padilla considered a clubhouse cancer?
vtadave
He was great with the Dodgers by all accounts.
wholenewworld
Padilla is a lot like Pierzynski. Loud, opinionated, abrasive, damn competitive. He’ll work out fine in some clubhouses, but others, not so much. Should be OK in Boston.
RBIBaseball
Oh excellent, we all get to see Mark Teixeira rip Vicente Padilla’s head off when he hits him with a pitch.
JacobyWanKenobi
I opened this article JUST to say that same thing. I believe Cano, Granderson, and Tex had about 11-13 hbp last season. I can see Adam Jones, who had 9, and Bautista (just cuz) getting whacked as well.
Furthermore, under Fracona’s management, Sox pitchers hit a staggering 620+ batters, which is over 50 more than the second place team in that time. Maybe things will change now?
#obscurestats
Cory J. Settoon
Eh, at least we are getting tons of depth. This time we need to keep it for the whole season.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Padilla isn’t depth. He’s a waste of a roster space IMO. His ERA will plummet. No way he will help us compete with the Yank’s rotation.
On another note, why are my posts being moderated here for no reason?
redsx968
The Sox NEED a veteran starter. I don’t see the Sox going after a stud pitcher like the Yanks did. They won’t get the the Yankees’ staff’s level, but a solid Beckett and Lester with a Bucholtz bounceback from injury plus a veteran starter and a young armwould be alright- they could at least hold the fort. I’d like to see the Sox go after some polished college arms in the draft though.
MaineSox
Why do they need a veteran starter? Beckett is definitely a veteran, and Lester isn’t exactly a rookie. Having a veteran starter isn’t exactly a must anyway, ask the Rays.
Sully65
need experienced starters to cover injuries, nothing wrong with these guys doing their thing with pawsox
BoSoXaddict
Well one of them is likely to end up the #5 starter..
GlassJawn
Padilla getting his fastball at 96mph? Surprised Padilla would want to pitch at Fenway considering how much he hates hitters parks.
oleary25
I think it’s a great idea on a minor league contract. What does it hurt to take a look at a guy in spring training ? He’d be fantastic if healthy as a swing man ala Aceves.
UltimateYankeeFan
With all the guys they have signed recently the Red Sox need about a thousand pair of eyes to take a look at all of them.
NomarGarciaparra
Then they will recruit a thousand pair of eyes to look at them…although I sense a slightly inaccuracy in your calculation.
jgmaynard
+1. Kudos, good sir…
KyleB
Desperation is in the air.
Leonard Washington
I know right bullpen arm/starting pitcher depth……so desperate…..mmmm no. Sign Edwin Jackson to a five year deal…..thats desperate.
Zach 12
Exactly. Padilla would be a nice depth pickup, could help in the rotation and pen as well..
East Coast Bias
I love how Red Sox fans are taking the same position they bashed the Yankee fans for taking last year.
(not you, I don’t think you were here last year, but Boston fans in general)
0bsessions
True story: I said the same thing a year ago when Yankees fans complained about Sox fans bashing the Colon and Garcia signing.
Given, I personally thought the Garcia and Colon signings were smart moves last year, but Yankees fans were all over us in ’09 when we signed Penny and Smoltz and all over us when we signed Silva.
East Coast Bias
Are you saying next year it’s our turn again?
Come on down Livan Hernandez!
start_wearing_purple
Likewise I find it amusing that some yankee fans are bashing the Red Sox for doing what their team did last year.
Not you, but in general 😉
It’s a kinda funny. These are very typical small market team moves, signing potential talent on minor league deals, and yet if either the Red Sox or yanks make them our fanbases laugh at each other. Gotta love the hypocrisy coming from both of our fanbases.
East Coast Bias
Word! Fortunately, people like you and I know that adding depth is a good move regardless if you wear red or pinstripes. Now if you wear red pinstripes, then we got a problem (Phillies) haha
MB923
I talk about the hypocrisy quite a bit myself. High payroll, “joke of a ballpark”, Tainted championships, Bad fans, the list goes on and on.
0bsessions
Employed that drunk David Wells…
MB923
lol now TBS has to deal with him.
User 4245925809
This sign makes sense.. Padilla that is.. Cook might make sense also, ditto Carlson, Hill.. The rest of those supposed “depth” moves are pretty much blocking moves with no intent, other than get in the way of other people who deserve the AB’s more.
It is funny how some will hammer all the signs who could pay off however..
Leonard Washington
I’ve been here for a couple years now. I was not one of those people.
chris_synan1
ya i know…we are bringing in small pieces who can produce and add depth to the rotation or bullpen just like the yankees did with Colon and Garcia and they were sucessful
Sully65
No desperation is having to trade for Bruce Chen because you are out of pitchers for a possible playoff game. Good added depth
Phillies_Aces35
The guy’s a headcase but he’s got a great arm. On a minor league deal, he might be a good investment for Boston.
rickjimbo
Aceves was also someone who was dubbed a ‘headcase’ when the Yankees non-tendered him (moreso the injury concerns but that was part of the media discussion when he was brought on board last winter). If Padilla can provide 1/4 of the rubber arm ability Aceves has shown he could be extremely valuable over the course of the season
Phillies_Aces35
Padilla was pretty hated by his teammates in Texas. He used to get them drilled all the time.
I don’t think it’ll be an issue, especially given the fact he needs a contract.
SixAces
When was Aceves dubbed a “headcase”? Never even heard of that story.
rickjimbo
That was how we was introduced by many of the local Boston news media (Cafardo, Silverman) that he had “attitude issues” while on the Yankees and the final straw leading up to him being non-tendered was being in a off-season bicycle accident breaking his collarbone. At least that was the commentary during spring training.
During the season it was often mentioned how would often cross up Varitek because sometimes he would throw whatever pitch he originally intended too often leading to an excess of visits to the mound. So no he was not described as a head case per say but he certainly has a hard edged / goofy makeup
jaysal
I followed him with the Dodgers and I don’t ever remember him being referred to as a “head case” or a “club house cancer”. It’s actually just the opposite. He was a hard worker who was ready to pitch when called upon. He’s a great addition to any team.
RBIBaseball
Its not so much that, its more like rather than walking a batter he would hit them intentionally so that the walks wouldn’t hurt his stats. He did that a lot with the Rangers. Since its the AL, when the opposing pitcher retaliates for their batters they hit the other team’s hitters and not the pitcher like in the NL. A lot of hitters on the Rangers disliked him for that, especially Teixeira. Once he went to the NL, he couldn’t do that anymore.
casorgreener
he intentionally hit batters so the walks wouldn’t hurt his stats….
it’s amazing what people come up with in regards to player’s mentalities
RBIBaseball
I’m not making that up Mark Teixeira himself said it in a post game interview.
ellisburks
Also he shot himself. Wait, is that headcase or injury history?
Brandon
If my memory serves me correctly it was a complete accident either he shot himself or his friend shot him while attempting to clean a gun that was thought to be unloaded all be it you should always check the chamber to see if there is a round in it.
CAD_Monkey
Still my favorite MLBTR quote, after the Dodgers signed him for the ’10 season:
“Padilla’s ’09 injury ledger included forearm tightness, a strained
shoulder, a bruised palm, swine flu, and a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
0bsessions
At least none of those are conditions that are likely to be chronic, I guess?
JacobyWanKenobi
Depends on the gun. 🙂
vivajackmurphy
Neither side has been to the postseason since 2009, so it seems like a good match.
toddcoffeytime
Not sure why 95-96 MPH and a reasonably good track record has not drawn more interest, seems like this would be a good depth move for a lot of teams.
Leonard Washington
Solid depth signing. Could be useful out the pen.
Disgustedfan
Oh no the Nicaraguan head hunter is back. Oh no
Gumby65
Nightstalker was actually a decent clubhouse guy while in LA; only person he shot during his tenure was himself, and I don’t even recall him throwing at himself in retaliation.
cyberboo
When Padilla was in Texas, he didn’t throw as hard, but he couldn’t control what he threw, resulting in the nickname, the headhunter. He has beaned many players during his career and now that his velocity is around 95, he could kill someone.
User 4245925809
I like how people get that name headhunter, when nobody in the last 40 years I can remember was nearly as bad as Ryan for intentionally throwing at other people’s heads and not just that but throwing BEHIND a player’s head so they would instinctively back into the pitch.
Ryan did it on purpose and with malice, long after he got his control down some, yet was rarely tossed from games. Dwight Evans quit playing in games Ryan pitched in after getting beaned once from Ryan, yet so many look up to a guy who threw 100mph and tried to kill people.
sdsny
Good pitcher, good depth signing for the Red Sox if he keeps his head on straight. Every team feels like they can deal with a player, then they find out they can’t. 2 most recent players that come to mind are Gary Sheffield and Milton Bradley. Sheffield wore out his welcome everywhere he went.
chris_synan1
his numbers look well
chris_synan1
Ben Cherington is doing good putting in small pieces who can produce
sergio
is not even signed yet, and people are already bashing it?
sergio
anyways, THE PADILLA FLOTILLA in fenway? it could be fun to see…
Franl Edwardo
THis will be a good signing for the Sox. This guy has always had top flight stuff, and if he is properly motivated (another contract) can give this team 25 good starts. He has the type of stuff to pitch well in the playoffs, and give the Yankees and Rays real problems.
oscargamble
Wow, Padilla and Carlos Silva on the same team? Is Livan still available?
Phillies_Aces35
Not the first time they were on the same team together. 2002-2003 Phillies teams.
jondogg2010
Please don’t….
Omar Gutierrez Miranda
Padilla es ahora un hombre maduro, con pensamientos mas serios y con la motivacion y entrega que tienen los peloteros de cara a sus ultimos años en la Pelota Mayor. Padilla sería una gran adquisición para Media Rojas; lo vi tirar aqui, en Granada,Nicaragua, y está muy fuerte, aun en el septimo inning estuvo por las 95mph.El ya no es el chico malo que golpea con fuerza a sus oponentes; ahora en lo que piensa es que la esquina de adentro del homeplate le pertenece y la cuida con su mejor arma: 95-97mph. Suerte Padilla, mejor equipo no encontrstes, !!duro contra los yankees.
inleylandwetrust
Si
chris_synan1
Good number 5 starter , now lets try to sign either Oswalt,Saunders,Jackson,Webb etc. so we can put Bard back in the bullpen where it will be more unstoppable…the bullpen is gonna be one of the best bullpens in baseball with Bailey,Malconen,Aceves,Bard,Jenks
CAD_Monkey
This reminds me of Dice-K and Igawa. Just replace Japan with the Dodgers, and the posting system with free agents.
Harris
Yanks get Pineda and Kuroda, Sox get Vicente Padilla. Thank god the Theo Epstein era is over. Red Sox, see you again in 86 years.
MaineSox
Yeah, it reminds me of last year when the Red Sox got Crawford and Gonzalez, and the Yankees got Colon and Garcia…
Nazzi_Muhammad
Does Bobby V speak spanish too? LOL
SixAces
Don’t you know? He vacationed at central America for 3 days, everybody wants to be his friend there…
Chris
I dunno…but…How was Padilla in a “swing role” as recently as 2010? The stats I saw said he made 16 appearances in ’10, while making 16 starts…actually his stats point towards a guy who was solely a reliever his first 4 or so years and a guy who has been a starter ever since except for his 9 relief appearances (and no starts) last season.
SixAces
Talk about knee jerk reaction move, this is the worst kind of move…
tdot32
the rumor was before the yankees moves were made
Dean Chace
I see this working out well for Boston. Until his injury, he’d pitched well for the Dodgers the last couple of years. Nice add for pitching depth, veteran presence in the clubhouse, and not afraid to speak his mind.
Dean Chace
I see this working out well for Boston. Until his injury, he’d pitched well for the Dodgers the last couple of years. Nice add for pitching depth, veteran presence in the clubhouse, and not afraid to speak his mind.