Dodgers Resign Padilla, Return to Hole

The offseason’s over for the Dodgers.  Sure, they might sign a minor-leaguer here or there, maybe someone to fill up the bench.  But with the signing of Vicente Padilla to a one-year, $5.025 million contract, the Dodgers are done.  Unless someone falls into their lap, like Orlando Hudson last year, the Boys in Blue will return to their cave, restart the hibernation process, and awake in April fully refreshed and ready for action.

The Padilla signing was obvious after the Angels swooped up Joel Pineiro.  In an interview with 710 ESPN, Ned Colletti barely even spoke about Ben Sheets, arguably the best pitcher available.  He called Braden Looper “Brian,” and when asked about the possibility of bringing SoCal native Jon Garland back into the fold, he returned to Padilla again.  Padilla was their man, ever since he started Game 2 of the NLCS.  They just had to make sure he was the best they could get.

Dodger fans can only cross their fingers and hope Sheets or Erik Bedard bring their asking prices down considerably.  Right now, the first four slots in the rotation are set: Billingsley, Kuroda, Kershaw, Padilla.  The last one is up for grabs, with Charlie Haeger, Scott Elbert, Eric Stults, John Ely, Russ Ortiz, and Carlos Monasterios all fighting for the chance to make the big-league club.