The Padres have agreed to a deal that will bring back southpaw Clayton Richard, according to Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune. It is not yet clear whether it is a major league or minor league pact.
Richard, 32, previously spent five campaigns in San Diego. He’ll return there after washing out this season with the Cubs, who had tendered him a contract and agreed to a $2MM deal over the winter.
Though he dealt with injuries at times, Richard was generally a quality starter for the Pads, particularly over the 2010-12 campaigns. In that three-year, run, he carried a 3.88 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 over 520 frames.
After a rough 2013 campaign, Richard ended up missing all of 2014 after undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. He showed well in Triple-A for the Pirates last year and ended up being dealt right onto the Cubs’ active roster, ultimately contributing 42 1/3 innings of 3.88 ERA ball — mostly out of the pen.
That led to Chicago’s decision to give Richard a spot in this year’s pen. But he never managed to get on track, even when deployed sparingly. The southpaw finished only 14 frames in 25 appearances, coughing up ten earned runs and as many walks as strikeouts (seven apiece).
Good riddance.
Agreed. Guy was about as dependable as tires on a racetrack full of spike strips.
Terrible post.
Yeah who ever you stole that line from please give it back
Great guy. Innings eater.
Padres are still hurtin for getting rid of Rizzo . . . Idiots.
Padres move Kemp, sign Clayton… Coincidence? I think not!
Seems likely that Richard may be the only LHP named Clayton pitching for an NL West team for the rest of the season.
I don’t quite see the coincidence. Care to further explain?
Worst pitcher in the MLB.
You must not have heard of one Chris Young
No
Chris Young is a pitcher who has allowed 26 home runs in 70 innings this season. That’s staggering. And much much worse than Clayton Richard, who is just a bad LOOGY.
Welcome back Clayton.
Great guy, tough to find someone who works harder. Should set a solid example for the younger players!
The back up QB to Chad Henne at Michigan!
Maybe the Padres need to bring back Chris Young now too?
Ugh!
Think how much scarier it would be if they brought back all of those pitchers from the late 2000s/early 2010s dark ages. Guys like Kip Wells, Aaron Harang, Ross olendorf, Dustin Mosley, etc.
Don’t forget about Mat Latos…
Jon Garland