The San Diego Padres are making an investment in Garrett Richards.
The Padres have signed Richards to a two-year deal with $15 million guaranteed, according to Yahoo’s Jeff Passan.
Sources: Free agent right-handed Garrett Richards has agreed to a two-year deal with the San Diego Padres. The guarantee is for around $15 million.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 29, 2018
Richards, 30, will miss the entire 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery, so the Padres are banking on what he’ll be able to deliver for them in 2020.
Richards has experienced injuries throughout his career. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2014. He suffered an elbow injury in 2016 but did not undergo Tommy John surgery and instead opted for other methods of treatment. He hardly saw any action in both 2016 and 2017 as a result. Then Richards was having a good season in 2018 until having more elbow problems. At that point he finally decided to undergo reconstructive surgery.
Richards has been solid when available. He is 45-38 with a 3.54 career ERA.
