Free-agent starting pitcher Vicente Padilla has signed a one-year deal with the SoftBank Hawks of Japan's Pacific League for $3.25 million, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com. CBSSports.com baseball insider Jon Heyman has confirmed the deal.
Padilla, 35, went 4-1 with a 4.50 ERa, 1.48 WHIP and 51 strikeouts in 50 innings as a reliever for the Red Sox in 2012.
Padilla also has extensive experience as a starting pitcher in the major leagues, most recently going 6-5 with a 4.07 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 84 strikeouts in 95 innings over 16 starts for the Dodgers in 2010.
Originally signed by the Diamondbacks as an amateur free agent, Padilla was part of the 2000 trade that sent Curt Schilling from Philadelphia to Arizona. He also pitched for the Rangers from 2006 to 2009.
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