Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Vicente Padilla Wastes No Time In Hitting The DL

I suppose this makes Blake Hawksworth's challenge a bit easier; Dodger fifth-starter candidate Vicente Padilla has left Camelback Ranch to get an MRI on his troublesome right elbow:

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Vicente Padilla left spring training and was scheduled to fly back to Los Angeles on Tuesday for an MRI exam after experiencing pain in his right elbow.

The pain is described as similar to what Padilla experienced last April before he was diagnosed with a nerve injury that sidelined him for two months.

Padilla, who is tentatively slated to begin the season in the bullpen, was examined Monday at Camelback Ranch by team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who determined having an MRI was the best course of action. Results of the exam are expected Wednesday. [...]

Padilla, 33, also spent 18 days on the disabled list last summer with a bulging disk in his neck. A free agent after last season, he re-signed with the Dodgers despite knowing he likely would be pushed to the bullpen. He accepted an incentive-laden, one-year contract with a $2 million base salary that represented less than half of his base from the previous year.

The Dodgers also are paying Padilla a $1 million signing bonus this year as part of the one-year, $5.025 million deal he signed with them before last season.

On the one hand, I suppose this validates the Dodgers' off-season strategy to stockpile pitchers, at the expense of addressing offensive gaps. On the other hand, it would be a shame to be out $6M for nothing.

Good luck on your MRI, Battletoad!

2 comments:

Eric Karros said...

Sax capitalizes prepositions. All two-letter words are created equal!

Kyle Baker said...

Usually he wastes no time hitting the opposing batter.