Report: Padilla to the Dodgers?

ESPN’s Jayson Stark is reporting the Dodgers are considering adding former Texas starter Vicente Padilla to their rotation.

Starks writes: Initially, the Dodgers had decided not to pursue Padilla, who was officially released this week by Texas after being designated for assignment earlier this month. However, that was before Hiroki Kuroda experienced post-concussion symptoms after being hit in the head by a line drive Saturday in Arizona.

Now the Dodgers are talking with Kinzer about Padilla, who pitched five shutout innings against the Dodgers in June during interleague play. And it’s possible a deal could be reached as early as Wednesday afternoon.

Padilla wasn’t expected to clear release waivers until Wednesday afternoon, so he can’t sign with anyone until he clears.

Padilla comes with some serious baggage, no doubt, and you always have to be concerned when former teammates celebrate your depature, as the Rangers did upon Padilla getting released recently.

He’s a guy whose been questioned on everything from his work ethic to his inability to be a quality teammate, so obviously there are risks involved.

But desperate times call for desperate measures, and right now the Dodgers’ pitching staff is in flux. So, why not, right?