Dateline: Cincinnati
The Reds signed Chris Paddack to a free agent contract this afternoon.
The 30-year old native of Austin, Texas was signed as what was expected to be deep starting rotation was dealing with an epidemic of blisters.
The Reds placed Rhett Lowder on the injured list with a cranky right shoulder. Nick Lodolo, who missed the first 38 games with a blister, will start against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. Brady Singer recovered from a blister at the end of spring training. He was his on the right ankle in the game on Tuesday night but x-rays were negative. Chase Petty, who made an earlier start in an emergency against the Chicago Cubs on Monday, was removed from his start on Sunday at Louisville with a blister.
Paddack was released by the Miami Marlins on Sunday and spent three days at home before the Reds among other teams called for his services.
He chose the Reds in part to rejoin two of his teammates from the San Diego Padres where he started his career. Paddack was drafted in the eighth round in 2015 by the Miami Marlins. They traded him to the Padres for Fernando Rodney on June 30, 2016.
Paddack broke in with the Padres as a 23-year old in 29 where he had a 9-7 record and 3.33 ERA in 26 starts.
"I remember when he was a prospect with San Diego," Terry Francona said.
Paddack was a teammate of current Reds' pitchers, Emilio Pagan and Pierce Johnson. He and Pagan were traded together to the Minnesota Twins in April, 2022.
Paddack has a 32-41 record in 116 major league starts with a 4.79 ERA. Last season pitching for Minnesota and the Detroit Tigers he combined for a 5-12 record and a 5.35 ERA. He led the the American League with 94 earned runs allowed. He was tied for fourth in the Major Leagues with 31 home runs allowed. While he gives up a lot of home runs, he keeps walks to a minimum. For his career he has walked 136 batters in 612 1/3 innings, while striking out 556. It is a more than 5-1 ratio.
He signed with the Marlins as a free agent on February 12 of this year. He made the team but had a poor start. He made six starts. He had an 0-5 record with a 7.63 ERA. He walked 10 batters in 30 2/3 innings. He struck out 27 and surrendered six home runs.
"I'm thankful for this opportunity. You look at my stats to start the season. It's not ideal, right. It's not how you want to start the season but it doesn't define you," Paddack said. "The front office, coaches, players are saying, let's give this guy a chance. We know what he's capable of. So far everyone has welcomed me with open arms."
The Reds weren't the only team to show interest.
"The health of pitchers, I feel it's not a matter of who, it's a matter of when," Paddack said.
That is exactly what the Reds found out the hard way with no fewer than five starters nursing injuries on top of the scare the Reds had with Singer on Tuesday.
"Terry Francona came up to me and told me he was excited to have me here. He broke the ice. I've heard a lot about him," Paddack said. "I've heard nothing but good things about him from all the players. That says a lot about who he is. I'm excited to build a relationship. He shook my hand and told me he was excited for me to be a part of this group. Sometimes we forget especially coming off a season, I've started so far, it means the world to you."
Another factor was the reunion with Pagan and Johnson.
"I know a couple knuckleheads," Paddack said. "Me and Pagan got traded over to the Twins a couple years back. It was a full circle moment. There's a couple guys from Texas in here. I'm excited to pick there brains and so forth."
He is mainly a fastball change up pitcher but has four others he can use. "I experimented with a seventh when I was with the Marlins," Paddock said. "The Marlins called pitches from the dugout. I was open minded but I was new to it. There is some good to it. But I am going to get back with the catchers. Are the other pitches the calibre that I want them to be? No, but I have them."
Paddack was assigned by Francona to start against the Cleveland Indians on Saturday.
"I told him no pressure but we're playing for the Ohio Cup, so damn," Francona joked to lighten the mood.
"He told me its 'Ohio versus Ohio'. He managed there for a long time," Paddack said. "He put some added pressure there to break the ice."
The Reds had to designate PJ Higgins for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
"For his sake, I hope he finds another opportunity. For our sake, I hope he doesn't," Francona said. "He did a good job for us."
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