Padres exploring Jake Peavy while signing Clayton Richard

The Union-Tribune’s Dennis Lin let us know this morning that Clayton Richard has been signed by the Padres to a one-year $1.75M deal. Since the end of the season, this has been an often talked about transaction that would surely happen due to mutual interest between the Padres and Richard. General disinterest from opposing clubs and fans made it a reality.

Richard, who made $2 million last season, will provide a veteran option for a thin and largely inexperienced rotation.

Shortly after the Richard news, Lin whispered rumors of the Padres being interested in former Padre Jake “The Miracle of Mobile” Peavy.

Peavy is coming off a down season — after the San Francisco Giants demoted him to the bullpen in August, he finished with a career-high 5.54 ERA over 31 games (21 starts) — and could be a fit on a one-year deal.

It’s like 2009 again only worse because everyone is old with dad bods and the Padres will probably lose more. What became immediately interesting to me about this news is that Peavy was traded to the White Sox for Clayton Richard among others back in 2009 and now they might be teammates! Okay it’s not that interesting but I’m already trying to convince myself I can stay interested over the next 3+ years.

Although I really soured on Peavy after he groaned and complained his way to a trade in 2009, it might be nice to recognize some familiar faces on the field as GM A.J. Preller purposefully and methodically tanks the team. Plus Peavy has already piggy backed his way to two World Series championships so it might cut back on his annoying demands of being on a competitive team.