While Joe Torre's future with the Dodgers is still uncertain, he told the press that he would recommend bringing starter Vicente Padilla back next season, according to Richard Dean in a piece for MLB.com.
"When we got him about a year ago, there were so many stories that followed him," said the 70-year-old skipper. "But he's been a good teammate. I don't think there's anybody who doesn't like what he does. It's tough to find stuff like he has. When he gets out there he can still do it. He knows what he's doing. He has not been a [negative] issue baseball-wise. I like him."
Padilla hooked on with the Dodgers with two months remaining in 2009 and re-upped with the club over the winter, signing a one-year, $5.025MM deal. The soon-to-be 33-year-old was released by Texas who reportedly considered him to be a bad teammate. Torre's backing suggests that there has been no such issue in Los Angeles.
The righthander missed a great deal of time in 2010, turning in just 16 starts. In 95 innings of work, he registered a 4.07 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9, numbers that are a step above his career averages. Padilla was scheduled to return to action yesterday, giving him a chance to audition himself, but will instead be shut down for the year due to a neck injury. He will be joined in free agency by fellow Dodgers starters Hiroki Kuroda and Ted Lilly.
i think they will sign padilla and kuroda and let lily walk
Funny, I think they’ll sign Padilla and offer arbitration to Lilly and let Kuroda walk.
Theres no way they don’t offer Lilly arbitration. It’s a win win
Theres no way they don’t offer Lilly arbitration. It’s a win win
Sign Lilly to a 3 year, sign Padilla to a 1 year, offer Kuroda arbitration or let him walk
Sign Lilly to a 3 year, sign Padilla to a 1 year, offer Kuroda arbitration or let him walk
i think they will sign padilla and kuroda and let lily walk
The Dodgers have two starters returning. Billingsley and Kershaw. It would not suprise anyone if the Dodgers do not sell one or both of them for money. Next year is a minor league staff.
HA
What do you guys expect. McCourt needs assets he can cash in on. He can trade either pitcher for a couple of guys whose team will pick up the salary of the players they traded for a year or two. That is what he has done with his best minor leaguers. Do not send replys like what? or da? this guy is cutting and gutting the dodgers.
HA
The Dodgers have two starters returning. Billingsley and Kershaw. It would not suprise anyone if the Dodgers do not sell one or both of them for money. Next year is a minor league staff.
i think they’ll get lilly wrapped up with a bow. lilly’s signing will be more than writing on the wall for kuroda as the dodgers won’t offer arb to both obviously since they can’t afford 25-28 mil a year for 2 starters even with salary coming off the books if kuroda were to accept.
i don’t think kuroda really wants to pitch in the u.s. anymore but that’s just a hunch.
i think they’ll get lilly wrapped up with a bow. lilly’s signing will be more than writing on the wall for kuroda as the dodgers won’t offer arb to both obviously since they can’t afford 25-28 mil a year for 2 starters even with salary coming off the books if kuroda were to accept.
i don’t think kuroda really wants to pitch in the u.s. anymore but that’s just a hunch.
didnt realize how good of a rotation the dodgers have they should resign lilly and kuroda with padilla you never know but i can hope they sign one of lilly or kuroda
Who cares…..They are a team going in the wrong direction…..sad.
this is all because of the mccheaps.
this is all because of the mccheaps.
Torre comes off like a policitian in his last days in LA. Padilla has a bad history both in Philadelphia and more recently in Texas. He is self centered, stubborn, moody and a bad teammate. He was not missed from Philadelphia, when moved and was basically kicked off the Rangers by the players. He has been on his best behavior with the Dodgers only because he’s working on a 1 yr contract and wants to get a long term deal somewhere. If he’s signed to a long term deal, watch him revert to the big jerk that he’s always been in the past. Torre’s positive accolades are only because he too is looking to manage somewhere and does not want to burn any bridges anywhere or with anyone. Witness the good things he’s said about Manny, even after Manny’s behavior while with the Dodgers.