So, this means Holland’s in it to win it (a rotation spot, that is), and Feliz is on his way up?

This move is a long time coming, if you ask me.

Good riddance to Padilla. Too bad we couldn’t trade him while his value was higher after his performances in May (but after last night, nobody wants the head case). Snapshot of the guy was on opening day when the team was introduced … he was the only player to snub high-fives/handshakes with the asst. coaches and trainers, just conveniently avoided them. tells you all you need to know. not a team guy.

I thought revokable waivers were only in August. They didn’t have to waive him to trade him, did they?

Evan,
I thought that players only had to be put through the waiver process after the trade deadline in order to trade a player “to any club if he clears waivers or deal with a club that makes a claim.” Prior to the deadline, I didn’t think being placed on waivers was necessary. I’m sure I’m missing something here – please explain.

Is trading Padilla to the Mets for Bobby Parnell reasonable? Parnell fits our need for a power right-handed reliever, and the mets are desperate for starters.

Addition by subtraction

Wow, a little shocked…and man the DMN sure is getting scooped on all the stories lately. All breaking rangers stories have been found here first…props.

David C, that really would make me laugh. Won’t happen, but just the thought of it is pretty amusing.

Newberg says you are wrong, Evan. If somebody claims Padilla, they have him immediately and assume his contract. What it sounds like you are describing is Revocable waivers, which can only happen after the trading deadline.

I think walrus is straight on with this. This is less of an issue of playoff drive than it is with Padilla and his “fit” on this team. Think of this as Sean Avery, Pt. II.

As for the waivers deal, they didn’t have to put him on waivers to trade him. But the fact that they don’t want him anymore, if they put him on waivers, and he clears, then I think he can be released.

It definitely doesn’t mean anything definitive, but I can’t help but believe that last night’s mental meltdown didn’t have SOMETHING to do with the timing of this today.

This feels like a “we’ve reached the end of our rope with this guy” move.

I trust our people but wonder if something else happened we don’t know about, sorta like Ponson last year. If we were going to trade, why trade low, he just had a bad start and came off DL. Before that he was dominant in his 4 previous starts. I think he either did something bad or just tired of him beaning people possibly or we have a deal set up to trade for big time pitcher and need to move some salary or maybe already looking at signing sheets to a 2 year deal or something. I just wish we let him make a couple good starts before doing to get his stock up some more.

I am seeing conflicting descriptions of outright waivers. I don’t think that they can pull him back, which would mean we can’t work a trade. If he clears, I think he is a F.A. since he can refuse a minor league assignmetn (since he is a 5 yr veteran. It also appears that the claiming team is only responsible for paying $20K plus a pro rata portion of the league minimum, and we’re own hook for the rest (which means this doesn’t free up $$). Trying to dig for more (as I assume Evan is too).

I second Apples’ question…

They are washing their hands on vincente…….it’s just that simple…….god does this group love to tko pitchers and at the strangest times……

Didn’t the Red Sox place Manny Ramirez on waivers a few years ago in the hopes someone would claim him (and his contract)?

Would clearing out $8M from the team’s salary by having a team claim Padilla really help the Rangers land an impact player without giving up a bunch of young talent? Maybe Ben Sheets, but does he join the Rangers for $8M, or even close to it?

Ghost of Jeff Kunkel

You hit the Padilla (er nail) right on the head.

The management (not sure if this collective or from the top) is increasing team discipline. This is the second pitcher in two years to be given the boot. Combine that with the forced move of the team face from SS to 3B against the players will plus calling Millwood out and the writing is clear.

This management is building a competitor and they are not above taking names and kicking tail.

IMHO long overdue and to be applauded.

Who in this economy is going to claim him and his $8M? If he does end up clearing waivers then what? He remains in the rotation and is more pissed off than normal? Perhaps he’d start throwing at his own players or at Wash?

I suspect Padilla has embarrassed his team mates for the last time. Its a shame because the guy has some talent but seems to be a little off center (OK, maybe a lot).

Evan, do you know him at all? Is he a loner in the club house? What’s his personality type? (Dr. Evan Freud)

One minor amendment to James’s explanation…

If he clears waivers and refuses assignment to the minor leagues, we’re still responsible for his $8M salary. The only way we get that off the books is if he’s claimed or if we trade him.

Give me a pitcher like Millwood over Padilla anyday. I would rather see Millwood fight it out for every inning on a day without his best stuff instead of seeing Padilla go out there and just throw at people when things aren’t going well. It is time to see if some of these young arms like Holland, Feldman, and Harrison (once healthy) can make up a winning rotation. Padilla won’t be here next year so even we are contending this year get him out and see these arms develop us into the team of the coming years.

But he’s not choosing to become a free agent, he’s choosing to refuse the minor league assignment. It would then be the Rangers’ decision whether to keep him on the big-league roster or to release him (paying him $8M either way).

I very well may be wrong, but that’s how I understand it.

My personal feeling is that the Rangers are tired of his act, so if somebody claims him and his $8M, then fantastic. But more realistically, he’ll clear waivers. In that case, this sends a message to VP to shape up, and also lets the rest of the league know that he’s available in a trade (where we might be willing to cover a portion of his salary).

I hope we can at least get some bullpen help for him.

James and Clint – you two have zeroed in on the $8MM question, and its the one that Evan and these guys need to answer. If nobody claims him and he rejects a minor league assignment and takes F.A., what becomes of his salary? If we are off the hook, there is your answer. I’ll admit, I don’t know that answer. I think Clint is right, but really hope James is.

If Clint is right, than I think you’ll see Padilla in the bullpen next week — don’t you think they’ve made up their mind that Holland is now IN THE ROTATION?

[...] Vincent Padilla is place on outright waivers Dallas Sports: Texas Rangers News Dallas Cowboys News Dallas Mavericks News Dallas Stars News Inside… [...]

I found this on a Rockies’ blog:

“In addition, a player with 3 years of major league service may refuse an outright assignment and choose to become a free agent, regardless of whether he has been sent outright to the minors previously. A player with five or more years of ML service time, as with minor league options, is given even more rights. The player cannot be outrighted even once without Veteran’s Consent, even if he clears waivers. If the player refuses his assignment to the minors, the team must either release him, making him a free agent, or keep him on the major league roster.

Regardless, in the case of the five-year service player, the team is obligated to pay the player under the terms of his guaranteed contract. If he is released and signs with a new team, his previous team must pay the difference in salary between the two contracts if the previous contract called for a greater salary.”

http://www.purplerow.com/2009/2/19/762532/mlb-transactions-part-thre

So, according to that blog, Clint is correct. The Rangers are on the hook for the remainder of his salary.

If he is outrighted to the minors he has two choices. He can either go play for OKC and try to get his head straight, or he can become a FA. If he chooses FA then the Rangers do not owe his salary and he is free to sign elsewhere. I think what some of you may be thinking of is what happened with Andruw Jones. This is a deifferent kind of waiver.

The timing is a bit curious, what was the expectation of what he would do in his first start coming of off the DL? Could his performance last night be blamed on rustiness? Or did something else happen?

I think he stays in the rotation if he doesn’t get claimed, who replaces him otherwise?

(but if they let me pitch, which they won’t, I’ll bean Mark Teixeira any time I see him)

=)

I agree with James, it was Padilla’s first start in a couple weeks with no rehab start, in the new launchpad at Yankee Stadium no less. And before his injury, Padilla had been lights out for the first month. There is no way this is a performance-related move.

Jeff Wilson’s write-up made it sound like Padilla was most bothered by Kinsler/Andrus not turning the double play last night, rather than his inability to throw strikes and focus (that balk???). The new regime (Wash/Maddux/etc.) seems to be looking for accountability, of which Padilla has never been a strong example.

This move feels just like the Ponson move of last year (although totally different circumstances, I understand). But the team is cutting ties with or alienating one of its pitchers, thus making an example that you are with us or against us. It is great for team chemistry and is probably the right move to make, but you also just ran off your #2 starter and a 14-game winner from a year ago.

I think Patrick A nailed it.

’86 Aggie, it looks like he would still be owed the $8M

Good interview on tv Evan

When you get a hinde binde do you immediately hang that pair of underwear on your radio antennae?

Of course, not!

Stupid, stupid way to run a railroad but when you consider that Hicks has ZERO credit available to him then it starts to see where this financial fiasco is leading us?

Sid Bass where are you?

I think this sends a message to Padilla: we’re willing to let you go; do things the right way or you’re out of here (assuming no one claims him and he’s already out of here).

Putting him on waivers did two things: 1) Sent a message to the young guys that we are going to play baseball the right way, like a team and individual antics are not tolerated, and 2) sent a message to Padilla to get his head straight if he wants to be part of a winner.

If Padilla is smart, he will get the message, do a mea culpa to his teammates, pitch on Sunday and be back to his pre-DL form. He can do it – just has to remember that we are now contending and screwing around is not an option.

why do we have to dump salary to make a trade? I have seen the payroll, and with the exception of Blalock, Young, Padilla and Millwood there is NO big money on this roster!

We finally have something going here and they are going to go cheap on us? Are all those seats being filled not a reminder to Hicks and Co. that winning MAKES money!

Go get the player(s) we need to finish this thing right!

Go RANGERS.