Dodgers Rumors: Smoltz and Padilla Updates

Update 8/19 9:50am: Vicente Padilla is close to being signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers according to Jon Paul Morosi. Not a big surprise as I have thought he was a perfect fit all along. The Dodgers are reportedly close to an agreement no official word yet.

Update 8/19 9:32am: John Smoltz has officially cleared waivers and has signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. He will be assigned as the fifth starter in the rotation at least for now.

Update 6:31pm: Jayson Stark via Twitter says Smoltz is close to signing with the Cardinals, and wants to make a decision tomorrow. Stark also later says that the Dodgers were recently interested in signing Smoltz. We could see a late push by the Dodgers with the Cardinals being close to an agreement.

Update 4:30pm: Jon Paul Morosi has a conflicting report against the earlier L.A. Times report. He says the Dodgers are among the teams still looking at Padilla. Here are the highlights from the post "The Dodgers have some interest in Vicente Padilla, one major-league source said Wednesday, although one Dodgers official downplayed the chances that the team will sign the right-hander. Padilla is expected to clear waivers on Wednesday afternoon and could sign with a new team soon afterward, one source said. He was placed on waivers by Texas on Monday."

The Dodgers are still in full court press mode as they continue to look for pitching help down the stretch. Colletti is apparently looking at several different options that are available externally. He is known to have on inquired on Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang of the Reds with no luck so far.

Colletti has made formal interest in John Smoltz, but a report this morning says he has "major concerns about his throwing shoulder." The Cardinals have made the most effort so far in obtaining Smoltz's services. I would say the Dodgers have crossed Smoltz off their list, and look for Smoltz to sign with St. Louis by the end of the week. Smoltz is a free agent now that he has been formally released by the Boston Red Sox.

The other possible target is Vicente Padilla, and this looks like it is a dead issue as well after the recent L.A. Times report. I don't agree with the report as this seems like the best fit for both Padilla and the Dodgers. Once you factor in the risk only being a pro-rated league minimum salary I think this is win-win situation.