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Rangers Have Seen Last Of Vicente Padilla

Posted on August 7th, 2009 6:40pm by Evan Grant
Filed under Baseball, Roster report, Texas Rangers

UPDATED, 6:58 p.m. CDT

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Rangers on Friday decided that 49 times was enough.

Just 48 hours after Vicente Padilla hit Kurt Suzuki with a first-inning pitch that resulted in retaliation aimed at Michael Young, the team finally cut ties with the volatile right-handed pitcher. After 49 hit batters over three plus seasons, Padilla was designated for assignment. The team has 10 days to trade or release him. General manager Jon Daniels made it clear the Rangers are through with him.

“This was a culmination of events over time,” Daniels said. “We’re putting together an an organization that pulls together, that stands for something. We intend to have a team in every sense of the word. When one guy doesn’t take that to hear, it is apparent. It’s not about throwing at batters in specifics. It was about not being a good teammate.”

RHP Dustin Nippert will step into the rotation to replace Padilla, though it’s possible the Rangers could have interest in Boston’s John Smoltz, who was designated also on Friday. Daniels declined to comment on whether the team had interest in Smoltz, but did confirm that two players who have been designated by their teams can make a swap if nobody claims the players involved or if the two teams are the only two teams that put in claims on the players.

First and foremost, though, the move was about backing up strong words the Rangers delivered to Padilla in June. After he twice hit New York’s Mark Teixeira, which brought a hard slide aimed at Elvis Andrus and a head-shaving fastball aimed at Nelson Cruz, the team placed him on waivers. During the waiver period, the team told him he had about 100 more days to serve on his contract with the Rangers and if he intended to get another anywhere in the majors, changing the perception of him as a moody head-hunter was essential. What went unsaid but was inferred was that the Rangers were drawing a line with Padilla. If he stepped across it, he was done.

He went eight consecutive starts – the longest of his career – without hitting a batter. On Wednesday, though, he allowed a first inning homer to Scott Hairston. Two batters later he hit Suzuki, who was 5-for-9 against him in his career, in the back. It earned a glare and some angry words from Suzuki and two innings later, Young was hit by Chad Reineke.

After the game, OF Marlon Byrd said it had become “redundant” to talk about Padilla’s penchant for hitting batters. On Friday, he said Rangers management did their part to back up the rest of the team.

“It’s about time,” Byrd said. “When a player disrupts a team, eventually there is going to come a time when management has enough. They have seen enough. We are fighting for a playoff spot. The last thing we need in the clubhouse is a distraction like that. There are 25 guys in this clubhouse who are behind management on this. They showed that they are serious. They did their job. That just serves as assurance that they are doing the right thing here.”

Two days after he hit Oakland’s Kurt Suzuki, seemingly on purpose, Padilla was designated for assignment this afternoon. As opposed to June, when the Rangers placed him on waivers, the team has no plans on bringing him back. He’ll either be claimed by another club, traded to another club, or, most likely released.

In his three-plus seasons with the Rangers, Padilla hit 49 batters, which is tied for the most in the major leagues in that time. He has twice suspended for beanball incidents, one of which led to a bench-clearing brawl with the Los Angeles Angels. He also spent four different stints on the DL. And he is the only Ranger in history to be diagnosed with Swine Flu.

But, he was also second to RHP Kevin Millwood in wins since 2006 with 43. Millwood has 44.

Padilla was in the final year of a three-year deal with the Rangers and is due about $3 million more in salary. If another team claims him on waivers, that team would be responsible for the remainder of his salary. If he is unclaimed and then released, a team that signs him will only be responsibile for a pro-rated portion of the major league minimum, about $125,000 at this point.

After taking Padilla off the roster, the Rangers officially recalled OF Julio Borbon, who had traveled with them from Oakland on Thursday.

53 Comments to “Rangers Have Seen Last Of Vicente Padilla”

Texas_Rocks @ August 7th, 2009 at 6:42 pm

I’m excited about the possibility of Feliz or Nippert being in the Rotation. Way to show some class Rangers!
Ted Price @ August 7th, 2009 at 6:44 pm

Wow! Knew he wouldn’t be back next season, but next start?!?!?

Good for the team for putting character first a la Ponson last year.
Texas_Rocks @ August 7th, 2009 at 6:46 pm

@Evan: What about the possibility of Smoltz replacing him. I know he’s been really shady but the way that Maddux has been able to change the Rangers pitching around, maybe he can turn Smoltz around too without the huge pressure in Boston.
Chris @ August 7th, 2009 at 6:49 pm

hmmm… Smoltz may be worth a look IMO.
Nathan @ August 7th, 2009 at 6:52 pm

This was long overdue. They should have done this in June, he was not part of the future!
Fred @ August 7th, 2009 at 6:52 pm

Laughing on the bench when MY got hit was the last straw for me–and maybe for Nolan
The Beer Guy @ August 7th, 2009 at 6:55 pm

First of all, good riddance Padilla. Don’t care if this hamstrings us in the short run, we’ll be much better off in the long run. The guy is a first-class idiot.

Re: Smotlz…have you seen him pitch? He’s done. He gets lit up by almost every lefty he faces. Maybe we could put him in the pen for facing RH batters, but as a starter? No.
Rangers DFA Vincente Padilla - MotownSports.com Message Board @ August 7th, 2009 at 6:58 pm

[...] Vincente Padilla Add another big name to the DFA pile, as the Rangers have DFA’ed Padilla. Dallas Sports: Texas Rangers News Dallas Cowboys News Dallas Mavericks News Dallas Stars News Inside… __________________ "Our lives begin to end the moment we become silent about things that [...]
MLB: Redsox cut Smoltz @ August 7th, 2009 at 6:59 pm

[...] I guess tis the season for DFA as Evan Grant of D Magazine reports that the Rangers have designated righthander Vicente Padilla for assignment. Grant says the [...]
Chris @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:03 pm

Yea! and I hope that the Alex Rios claim has nothing to do with the Rangers.
obagain @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:04 pm

I like that the rangers stuck to their principal, they told him what would happen and they followed threw.
Wish it had come 10 minutes after the game but this is good enough.
David in Cleburne @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:07 pm

Another good riddance from this corner. What a head case. But, I suppose he’s made his money. Why should he care, right? Trying to understand his mentality would take us all down a very dark alleyway that I would rather not visit. But, still… it’s baffling.
Mike E @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:11 pm

You know despite all the hit batsmen Padilla has had in the past, it seemed like he was actually making an effort to not hit guys this year. Nobody talks about Kevin Millwood going after guys this year, but until the other night he and Padilla had the same number of HB’s this season.
Tom B @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:14 pm

Wouldn’t it be funny if he showed up in Cleveland pitching, next week, against the Rangers? Okay, so funny is not the word.
Rangers Fan @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:16 pm

I am celebrating.
Tippett's 'stache @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:17 pm

“And he is the only Ranger in history to be diagnosed with Swine Flu.”

Evan, thank you so very much for throwing that part in. It made my day.
The Beer Guy @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:18 pm

I suspect it’s about more than simply hitting batters, perhaps general attitude, clubhouse chemistry, etc.

He’ll get picked up, 100% guarantee that. And it will be a good pick up for that team, as long as they don’t re-sign him. Two months isn’t enough time for him to wear out his welcome.
Chris Hartman @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:27 pm

I trust the Rangers decision on Padilla, but he has been a good more often than bad this year. Despite the fact that he is one of my all-time favorites, I don’t think Smoltz is the answer. Duke? Might be. Davis? Another possibility.
Fred @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:28 pm

@TxRock-doubt if you’ll see Feliz start this year. They probably won’t get him stretched out again during regular season, and secondary stuff probably still not ready. Spring may be a different situation, however.
Jack Daddy @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:33 pm

I love it. 2 reasons:

1. He is not a difference maker;
2. He won’t be here when things really matter (2010)
JustSaying @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:36 pm

rangers have a history of doing this to a rotation starter in the middle of the season……it goes to show how weak we are in evaluating pitching………….don’t blame vincente……the blame should go to the moran that signed him……
bigskinny @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:43 pm

Erin Moran has never been a part of Rangers management. Someone is misinformed.
jc @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:43 pm

Pablo Escobar is gone!!
JustSaying @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:44 pm

padilla, ponson, kenny rogers, ryan dreese……..let’s all stand up and salute the flag since we’ve shown these no talents to the door…………

Just who in hell is running this organization that public floggings are best for the team? A bunch of classless no names……….
becca @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:55 pm

i’m on record for my support of vicente. but he did cross the line. i am happy the rangers did it for reasons that made sense. it’s true that he has the most wins after millwood, but it says a lot that the organization stands up and says wins or not, we don’t play that way. adios, pelo mojado. (i don’t know how to say sweaty in spanish) there will be one less Lamborghini at the ballpark. which is probably ok.
RAT @ August 7th, 2009 at 7:58 pm

I remember seeing Padilla show up to the ballpark a short two hours before gametime. It was a game he was starting too!

Welcome Borbon! I hope he gets a start at lead-off/CF soon.
bigskinny @ August 7th, 2009 at 8:02 pm

Classless no names? It’s obvious the front office and the locker room agree on this decision. Ryan has a pretty big name in baseball…Michael Young has quite a bit of respect in the game as well. Go to the Rangers website and watch the video of Young’s homerun yesterday. Watch the reaction in the dugout. Young shuts out Padilla on the high five. The guy has been blackballed by the players. His pace was slow enough to leave his teammates vulnerable. They had to pay for his temper. I am sure you have worked with someone with his mentality and wished he was fired. This is no different. Addition by subtraction.
Should they have signed him? Who else with his talent would sign with Texas 3 years ago? Have we already forgotten the pitching plight in Texas before this?
dooleyindallas @ August 7th, 2009 at 8:03 pm

Classless remarks from Marlon Byrd.
Of course Marlon is Washington’s boy and he makes sure Marlon is in the lineup every night. Let’s see how supportive Byrd is of management when they sit his fat ass on the bench come September.
Clinton V. @ August 7th, 2009 at 8:07 pm

Thank god I can leave my surgical mask at home whenever I attend a game at Rangers Ballpark.
TD @ August 7th, 2009 at 8:09 pm

WOWSERS.

On one hand: He got some big wins.

On the other hand: They guys obviously did not like him.

On the freakishly mutant third hand: NIPPERT?

Ummmm……I call this a NO-WIN.
john in clearwater @ August 7th, 2009 at 8:20 pm

Someone that needs pitching will pick up Padilla. White Sox, Twins, somebody. They might even pick up the remainder or some portion of his contract. Agree that Byrd maybe should have let the action speak for itself. If anyone on the team was going to say something, it should have been Washington or Young. But maybe that’s why they say Byrd is the leader in the clubhouse because he’s willing to go on record with his thoughts.
JustSaying @ August 7th, 2009 at 8:30 pm

@marlon there’s a reason he was paid $12 mil and you get $3 mil………but look on the bright side you’ll both be free agents at the end of the year and maybe you can still be on the same team somewhere else……..
becca @ August 7th, 2009 at 8:31 pm

wow, pow pow justsaying!
Gunter @ August 7th, 2009 at 8:40 pm

It’s about time,” Byrd said. “When a player disrupts a team, eventually there is going to come a time when management has enough. They have seen enough. We are fighting for a playoff spot. The last thing we need in the clubhouse is a distraction like that.”

Makes me why no one in the Cowboys locker room last year had the balls to say this about a certain no. 81……..
Fred @ August 7th, 2009 at 8:51 pm

@just= Byrd is a lot more of a man than Padilla. In fact, the way he’s been a leader this eyar, he’s a lot more of a man than,,,many people.
txmemaw17 @ August 7th, 2009 at 8:56 pm

Byrd mouths off when he shouldnt. I agree he knows he can say anything and he will be in the lineup as long as RW is manager. He would not be a starter on any other team, but I seriously doubt you will ever see his fat ass sitting on the bench as long as Warsh is manager.
Andrew in Boston @ August 7th, 2009 at 9:19 pm

Two issues
1) Smoltz was DFA’d for a reason. He is terrible right now. The only reasons to swap is to get a warm body for the rotation and to save money, though Smoltz’s contract is structured in such a way that he might actually be more expensive than Padilla
2) Didn’t Thad Levine say just a few days ago that Padilla was not put on waivers because of the plunking? LIAR!
Fred @ August 7th, 2009 at 9:38 pm

Becca-
lol. I love you description. It’s “sudoroso”, but i love “wet hair. I have called him “the Tres Flores Brilliantine Spokes Person’”
Fred @ August 7th, 2009 at 9:44 pm

Lordy-people turning on Byrd because he spoke the truth? As he said: there are 25 guys in this clubhouse who support management;s decision” (or something close to that. I am flabbergasted by the folks blasting him. He has been a club house leader for 2 years, even knowing he may not be back next year. Padilla was cancer in the club house.
Fred @ August 7th, 2009 at 9:49 pm

Eeldman’s command is uncharacteristically iffy, so far.
Fred @ August 7th, 2009 at 9:55 pm

@becca-you bring more than most of us to this board, Bless you!
Fred @ August 7th, 2009 at 9:59 pm

Not sure the news that Franky Frank is closer, again makes me comfy–but CJ sure doesn’t help my bladder control, either.
Jesse @ August 8th, 2009 at 1:34 am

“And he is the only Ranger in history to be diagnosed with Swine Flu.” Piling on a bit. But a nice touch.
CN @ August 8th, 2009 at 2:25 am

What’s wrong with you people, piling on Byrd? He’s been nothing but a breath of fresh air since he arrived. He makes acrobatic catches so often they start to become routine. He busts his ass down first like Pete Rose, any hit is a potential double and he doesn’t whine about playing time- not to mention his positive attitude and clubhouse leadership. AND he plays hurt without complaining. Nothing was expected of him when he was signed and look at all he’s brought to the team. He might not be the best player on the team but he always makes things happen. I know he’ll be gone next year. I hope its not a big mistake.
Ford @ August 8th, 2009 at 4:06 am

Rangers Rangers! We’re behind ya! Love the move!
Duane @ August 8th, 2009 at 8:24 am

I don’t understand why everyone is piling on Byrd. He’s hit .307, .298, and .280 (this season) his three years in Texas, while playing good defense and playing hard every day. He’s widely perceived as one of our clubhouse leaders, which, if you think about, says volumes about the respect he gets in the clubhouse. Guys who are 31 years old, make $3 million per, and have 51 career home runs aren’t generally looked to as obvious leaders on a team. Obviously, he’s stepped up into that role because that’s what was needed in a young clubhouse. Hamilton’s getting his at bats, as are Murphy and Cruz. I’d rather see Byrd in there than Jones, and my guess is that Borbon will take some playing time if he stays up and plays well. Cut the guy some slack.
Bobby in Bryan @ August 8th, 2009 at 9:02 am

I support Marlon all the way. He gives his all for the team in the field and in every at-bat. I think that his comments have been right-on. Every clubhouse needs a player and an unselfish leader like Marlon!
rangerfan1974 @ August 8th, 2009 at 10:01 am

Nippert probably deserves the chance, but I wish we would try going with an extra pitcher and stretching Jennings out at the Major league level. We could adjust backt to norm after he is stretched out, or just use the OKC shuttle on the days he starts. He is not a reliever, but I think has shown he deserves a shot.
Thanks to Byrd for being honest. Padillia challenged players to speak up, so he called him out.
Wash, please start Borbon and lead him off….you led off Arius….Please!
Here’s hoping Hambone is heating up…if so, look out post season!
trfan4life @ August 8th, 2009 at 1:23 pm

Dumb Dumb Dumb!!!!! I support Vinny !! We’ll be watching him in the post season. You cant blame Vinny for all the men left on base..cmon now !! Byrd needs to shut up and start hitting the damn ball. I still think Murphy should be in the lineup before Byrd !! It’s time for this organization to grow some and play with some intensity. The school boy persona needs to go !!! Go Rangers !!
JC @ August 8th, 2009 at 2:35 pm

I predict that Padilla will not be the last Ranger to be diagnosed with swine flu.
charlie @ August 9th, 2009 at 12:19 am

Adios, vincente; I hope you end up back in the NL so opponent’s pitchers can show you how it feels to use your face as a catcher’s mitt.
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