Sayounara Mr. Padilla

July 24, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher

(44) throws to the Texas Rangers in the eighth inning at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The Red Sox won beating the Ranges 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

The Kangaroo court in the Red Sox clubhouse is going to have to confer the heaviest perspiring player on the roster award to a new teammate. According to MLB.com Red Sox reliever Vicente Padilla has reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Japan Pacific League. Padilla signed a one one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Hawks.

A native of Nicaragua, Padilla has spent 14 years in the majors, compiling a 108-91 record with a 4.32 ERA in 386 career games (237 starts). Padilla has also has also been a member of Arizona, Philadelphia, Texas and the Los Angeles Dodgers in his Major League career.

In 2012 with the Sox, Padilla had a 4.50 ERA and a chubby 1.48 WHIP in 50 innings pitched. Even so, Padilla posted a 4-1 a record and pitched well enough to bring home at least one more payday. With the number of arms currently in the bullpen his presence will likely not be missed. That is until August 15 rolls around, the hopes of many an acquisition and young pitching hopeful have fallen to lack of talent, injury or mental toughness and the Red Sox look for a grizzled gun slinger riding in off the high plains. In this case, they’ll have one less, who has packed it up and gone east.

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto Mata o hima de, 
Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto Himitsu wo shiri tai
– Mr. Roboto, Styx