Shortly after the Cubs designated left-hander Clayton Richard for assignment July 26, the 33-year-old rejoined the Padres, with whom he spent parts of five seasons from 2009-13. Richard fared respectably in his second stint in San Diego, which began Aug. 6, and he and manager Andy Green confirmed Saturday that there’s mutual interest in a new deal for the impending free agent, reports Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter link).
In a disastrous final start of the season on Saturday, Richard allowed seven runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings of a 9-5 loss to Arizona. But that outing wasn’t enough to sully the run-prevention numbers Richard posted with the Padres in just under two months. Overall, Richard threw 53 2/3 innings with the Friars and recorded a terrific 2.52 ERA, though he struck out only 34 hitters and issued 24 walks. Richard also logged below-average strikeout numbers in his first go-around with the Padres, yet he helped his cause with a 50.3 percent ground-ball rate and managed a usable 4.16 ERA across 636 2/3 innings. Richard’s trend of inducing grounders has continued since, as he registered a career-best 65.1 percent rate in 67 2/3 frames with the Cubs and Padres this season.
If the Padres do re-sign Richard, who made $2MM this year, he’ll likely factor into their rotation plans again in 2017. Richard was almost exclusively a reliever as a member of the Cubs, with whom he came out of the bullpen in 45 of 48 appearances, but has otherwise worked mostly as a starter since debuting with the White Sox in 2008. Notably, the rebuilding Padres aren’t exactly loaded with quality rotation options going into next year, and their best starter, Tyson Ross, could face surgery after missing nearly all of this season with shoulder issues. Christian Friedrich and Luis Perdomo look likely to take rotation spots in 2017 after combining for 43 starts this year, while Jarred Cosart and Paul Clemens represent a pair of other possibilities under team control.
Aside from a healthy version of Ross – something no one has seen since 2015 – that group inspires little confidence, which explains why the Padres’ rotation is among the league’s worst this year. That instability could lead the Padres to bring back Richard on a cheap deal to take the ball every fifth day and, if he continues producing decent results, perhaps turn into a trade chip around next summer’s deadline.
Why not?
Ross is still a huge question mark and the only sure spot taken is by Rule V pick Perdomo!
I think Friedrich is a pretty good lock.
I agree, they have to make do with what they have at this point. Maybe Rea can return a little earlier than expected if the stem cell treatment works out. Heck, they could even stick Bethancourt on the mound or in the bullpen.
Since he spent the entire season on the active roster, he won’t be subject to Rule V restrictions next year. Unless he turns a lot of heads in spring training, he may start at AAA to complete his development.
In a perfect world Perdomo would start in AAA but do the Padres realistically have 5 starting pitchers who are better than him at this point?
right now, the 3 guys that have impressed me the most are Richard, Perdomo and Cesar Vargas (injured…sore elbow). Before Vargas got hurt, he was DEALING!…amazing, how a guy is forgotten so quickly. I keep hearing all these other options like Cosart, Clemens and Freidrich…and I gotta say, Im not imnpressed by ANY OF THE THREE!
If the Padres are hanging their hats on those guys, then yea, they’re more interested in losing than winning. Those are the kind of pitchers that you use when you have nothing else. But those are not the kind of guys, you break camp with in 2017.
the Padres should be looking OUTSIDE the organization for two starters that have been there and done that. Ross, is a question mark, much like Cashner was. I just dont have faith in his ability to stay healthy for a full season. So, they should be acting as if they’ll be doing without him, next season, instead of acting like he’ll stay healthy.
this team has offense and defense, falling out of the trees…but the pitching is just ridiculous…in a bad way.