The Padres re-signed pitcher Clayton Richard to a one-year, $1.75 million contract, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The deal includes an additional $1 million in incentives.
Richard, 33, was used out of the bullpen by the Cubs, putting up a 6.43 ERA in 25 appearances before being released in August. The Padres snapped him up and had him mostly pitch out of the rotation, compiling a 2.52 ERA with a 34/24 K/BB ratio in 53 2/3 innings.
Richards’ peripherals don’t really point to a quality starting pitcher, but the Padres don’t have many better options even after recently signing Jhoulys Chacin. The club is just hoping Richards can reliably eat up some innings over the course of the 2017 season.