Padilla reportedly signs with Texas

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, free agent Vicente Padilla has signed a three-year, $34 million dollar deal to return to the Texas Rangers. This deal affects the Mets in two ways:

1. The Mets can't sign Padilla. They were rumored to have interest in the former Phillie, but now he appears to be off the market.
2. The Rangers may no longer be able to pursue Barry Zito

I don't think this signing necessarily precludes the Rangers from going after Zito, but it certainly makes it less likely that they will enter his sweepstakes. This deal also provides Scott Boras with some ammunition to ask for even-bigger bucks for Zito. Padilla is 68th in ERA since 2004, right between Jeff Weaver and Jamie Moyer (Zito is #33). Incidentally, Pedro Martinez is #12 and Tom Glavine #13. Dontrelle Willis is #11.

All told, the Rangers (or the Mets) could have done far worse than Padilla (see: Adam Eaton). He turned 29 in September, his career 2:1 strikeout-to-walk rate is respectable, and he limits the homeruns allowed, a huge bonus in a park like Arlington.