Padilla stays with Dodgers for $5,025,000

[January 22, 2010]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Right-hander Vicente Padilla decided to stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers after his outstanding performance down the stretch last season, agreeing Thursday to a one-year contract worth $5,025,000.

Padilla gets a $1 million signing bonus that is deferred and a $4,025,000 salary this season.

Los Angeles signed Padilla for a prorated share of the $400,000 minimum on Aug. 19 after the Texas Rangers abruptly released their No. 2 starter. Padilla went 4-0 with a 3.20 ERA in seven starts for the Dodgers, bolstering the NL West champions' inconsistent rotation.

Padilla then allowed just one earned run over 14 1-3 innings in his first two career playoff appearances for the Dodgers before losing Game 5 of the NL championship series to Philadelphia.

The Nicaraguan pitcher is 98-85 with a 4.03 ERA in his 11-year career with Arizona, Philadelphia, Texas and Los Angeles. He made $12 million in 2009, the final season of a $33.75 million, three-year contract he signed with the Rangers.

[Associated Press]

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