Red Sox close to 1 year deal with Brad Penny

by RayOfLight on Dec 28, 2008 5:11 PM EST

Source: Red Sox close to adding Penny to rotation

Updated: December 28, 2008, 4:55 PM EST 3 comments
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Free-agent right-hander Brad Penny and the Boston Red Sox are close to agreeing on a one-year deal, according to a major-league source.

Penny, who would be in the Red Sox's starting rotation, will have to take a physical and the two sides are still working out the language of the contract.
Penny, 29, struggled last season with the Dodgers, going 6-9 with a 6.27 in 17 starts and two relief appearances. He was shut down in September and placed on the 60-day disabled list with a sore right shoulder.

Penny posted a career year in 2007 by throwing 208 innings with 16 wins and a career-low 3.03 ERA.

The move would give the Red Sox the ability to keep Justin Masterson in the bullpen and be patient with Clay Buchholz.

Adding Penny would be Boston's first big move of the offseason after it lost out on slugger Mark Teixeira earlier this month. Penny would join an already formidable rotation that includes Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8997354/Source:-Red-Sox-close-to-adding-Penny-to-rotation

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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Comments

Anger issues, injury problems, not too effective usually

I like the Sox signing him….

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Dec 28, 2008 5:16 PM EST reply actions

not to effective usually?

Penny had one bad year last year but other than that he’s been pretty solid the past 9 years or so especially if he ends up a number 4 or 5 starter.

by RayOfLight on Dec 28, 2008 6:12 PM EST up reply actions

Assuming the money isn't outrageous, it's a smart move.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 28, 2008 5:16 PM EST reply actions

not that it matters, why the hell won’t the yankees or sox allow ONE of their rotation spots to be filled with a rookie or second year guy…I mean the Yanks have offered a player 10mil to keep their best pitching prospect from doing anything or proving anything and the Sox wont trade Clay for Salty, but won’t start him either… sidenote—-wtf bucs c’mon the raiders…seriously…

IF only Harry Carey could be arounde for Kosuke.

by CubFanRaysaddict on Dec 28, 2008 5:51 PM EST reply actions

right there

thats why I think it is a bad move by the Sox, Buchholz/Bowden should be given a chance

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Dec 28, 2008 6:34 PM EST up reply actions

No shit on the Bucs losing...how the hell do you lose to the Raiders! Sad part on two fronts: Cadillac may have torn the patella tendon on his left knee (not the one he just rehabbed from) and Bucs would have gone to playoffs with win (Dallas got whooped)

by TheUltimateBucFan on Dec 28, 2008 7:31 PM EST up reply actions

Clay and Bowden will have to earn their spots

And it’s not like the Sox signed Penny for 10 years or something. Wake and Penny are likely to be 2 holes in the rotation in the near future (I really don’t know why, but I have a feeling Wake will retire after this season).

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 28, 2008 9:58 PM EST up reply actions

"Adding Penny would be Boston's first big move of the offseason after it lost out on slugger Mark Teixeira earlier this month"

This is the best quote I’ve heard all off season!

by TheUltimateBucFan on Dec 28, 2008 7:29 PM EST reply actions

All right! I can't wait for Penny to go all 2008 on the Sox next year.

Big Z is the MAN.

by .Taylor on Dec 28, 2008 8:26 PM EST reply actions

5 mil + 3 mil in incentives

I guess it’s a smart signing, if he pitches like shit, he wont get that 3 mil. Don’t know, as a Rays fan, thought they should give a young guy a shot.

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Dec 28, 2008 9:00 PM EST reply actions

And now Bard...

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 28, 2008 9:01 PM EST reply actions

Tek should just retire now

He is a Type A Free Agent. He will either get paid very little and be a backup or hang it up. He doesn’t throw runners out and he can’t hit anymore and no one is losing their first rounder for that.

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Dec 28, 2008 9:11 PM EST up reply actions

Am I alone thinking Bard may be a smart signing?

It’s not like we have anybody who could be much better. The Sox have 2 dudes who are over 25 and never played a full ML level that could start at C next season. And Bard was a solid player like, 2 years ago.

Oh, and I like Penny for the money he’s making. Low risk, fair enough reward kind of deal.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 28, 2008 9:56 PM EST up reply actions

No?

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/mitts-in-boston

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 28, 2008 10:02 PM EST up reply actions

Thank God

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 29, 2008 10:29 AM EST up reply actions

The Sox are a smart organization.

They rarely make mistakes, and when they do, they can absorb the cash without a problem.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 29, 2008 12:43 PM EST up reply actions

i hope Brad Penny pitches like 2008 again next year

but i guess the Red Sox are thinking he is going to bounce back to his pre 2008 form which is very much possible, and it seems like he has been around for awhile but he is only 30. The red sox keep signing/trading for old marlins i used to like and now cant like anymore (Beckett,Lowell and now Penny)

everything Rays,Marlins,Twins and Reds
who needs k-rod for 37 million when you can have d-rod for 50k?
twins sign ty wigginton ASAP!!!!

by RaysOfHope on Dec 29, 2008 1:28 AM EST up reply actions

and Beckett and Lowell used to be 2 of my favorite marlins too, sigh :(

but thanks for hanley and anibal guys!

everything Rays,Marlins,Twins and Reds
who needs k-rod for 37 million when you can have d-rod for 50k?
twins sign ty wigginton ASAP!!!!

by RaysOfHope on Dec 29, 2008 1:29 AM EST up reply actions

The Sox may have good young pitching depth

but they arent stacked like we are, they needed to make a signing to sure up their rotation. Bowden and Bucholz are far from sure things, and Wakefield is old and unpredictable from a start to start basis. Thats a lot of knowns behyind their top 3. If either of their prospects emerge then they could easily take Wakefields spot or find a role like Masterson until there is room

our rotation and young pitching is much more stable than Boston, mostly because of Price, thats why we can choose not to address our rotation this offseason and even trade someone like Jackson

by Rays4242 on Dec 29, 2008 8:54 AM EST up reply actions

*unknowns

by Rays4242 on Dec 29, 2008 8:55 AM EST up reply actions

Stacked?

Buchholz and Bowden are far from sure things, while you guys are… Stacked? With whom? I know this is a Rays blog, but I have no idea why people overrate the Rays pitching prospects while underrating the Sox ones (Bowden has better minors numbers than any of the Rays pitchers in the minors, and I won’t talk about Price, because he didn’t have a minor league career).

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 29, 2008 10:28 AM EST up reply actions

Bowden has better minors numbers than any of the Rays pitchers in the minors

Ummm… Not sure about that. Wade Davis has better numbers. Hellickson has better numbers. Moore and Barnese were both better at the same levels. Who exactly are you saying he had better numbers than? Niemann? Talbot? Townsend? Price is a better pitcher now than Buccholz. We have three pitching prospects after him that are as good as Bowden although not as polished. It is impossible to say which will turn out, but that is why it’s great to have at least 5 pitchers that could be top 100 prospects.

by rglass44 on Dec 29, 2008 10:51 AM EST up reply actions

What?

Bowden, Hellickson and Davis in AA:

Bowden: 2.33 ERA / 0.92 WHIP / 101:24 K/BB
Davis: 3.85 ERA/ 1.36 WHIP/ 81:42 K/BB
Hellickson: 3.94 ERA/ 1.31 WHIP/ 79:15 K/BB

Similar sample sizes, and Bowden is also younger than Davis. I’m not saying the Rays don’t have quality young SP in the minors, because they do. But saying Bowden and Buchholz are ‘far from sure things’? Why? Buchholz is not that far from Price stuff-wise.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 29, 2008 11:02 AM EST up reply actions

Maybe because all pitching prospects are far from sure things

Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up that much.

~George Costanza~

by Sandy Kazmir on Dec 29, 2008 11:04 AM EST up reply actions

So you are basing it on one level?

I looked at their career ML numbers. I’d prefer to look at the entire body of work than one cherry-picked number. You also left out Bowden’s first trip to AA, which is essentially what Hellickson’s was. In Bowden’d first AA stint he had a 4.28 ERA/1.43 WHIP/82/33 K/BB. This is the joy of cherry picking statistics.

by rglass44 on Dec 29, 2008 11:21 AM EST up reply actions

???

rglass you are completely forgetting this two game stint Bowden had his soph. year of high school he had a .50 whip and a was 2-0….. 2-0…need I say more?

IF only Harry Carey could be arounde for Kosuke.

by CubFanRaysaddict on Dec 29, 2008 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

Not cherry picking

I compared what Bowden and Davis did at the same level and at the same age, Hellickson was a bit of a stretch. Lower levels don’t mean shit, a lot of guys can dominate A ball.

And this doesn’t even matter, I shouldn’t have gone there. I’ll overrate Bowden, while you’ll overrate Davis.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 29, 2008 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

I’ll overrate Bowden, while you’ll overrate Davis.

Exactly. We all overrate our own prospects (until they’ve been around too long-Niemann and Brignac), and that is where the depth comes in. We have extraordinary pitching depth in the minors. Also, while Davis struggled in AA, he was exceptional in a long stint in AAA. The whole prospect game is a crap-shoot, so the more you have the better off you are. Unless of course you can build through FA.

by rglass44 on Dec 29, 2008 3:36 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, you're right

Funny how the Red Sox and the Rays have similar philosophies building their teams. The Rays have more depth in the minors, that’s why Boston sign low-risk guys like Penny, Colon, Bard and such. Thinking about it, I think signing like these are an answer to you, and no longer to the Yankees.

Prospects can go either way, it’s really hard to judge ’em. Buchholz seemed every bit a sure thing after 2007 as Price seems right now, yet he struggled a bit. Even the guy who seems damn ready might not be that ready after all.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 29, 2008 3:44 PM EST up reply actions

Buchholz seemed every bit a sure thing after 2007 as Price seems right now, yet he struggled a bit. Even the guy who seems damn ready might not be that ready after all.

My biggest worry.

by rglass44 on Dec 29, 2008 5:29 PM EST up reply actions

Don't expect much from Price

He may dominate, because he sure has the stuff to, or he may struggle, like Buchholz and Hughes did. The only bright side is that if he does indeed struggle, you’ll start to see some people suggesting to trade him. And those are funny comments somehow. :)

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 29, 2008 6:44 PM EST up reply actions

price is much better than buchholz and hughes

dont even compare those 2 to him

MLB-Rays,Marlins,Twins, and Reds
NFL-Vikings,Lions(i know Shut up),texans, and Bills
NBA-Timberwolves(also shut up),Cavilers(bye bye LeBron in '10)
NHL- Wild and Penguins
College-Gophers,Gators,Longhorns and Irish.
all of the above mentioned teams are in order by my favorites

by RaysOfHope on Dec 29, 2008 10:46 PM EST up reply actions

Stuff-wise, he's not that far from Buchholz and Hughes

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 29, 2008 11:13 PM EST up reply actions

ya, but his upside is much higher than those 2

price has future ace written all over him, bucholz looks like a 3 or a 4 and hughes probably a 3

by RaysOfHope on Dec 30, 2008 5:32 PM EST up reply actions

Disagree on Buch

Buchholz and Price are both future aces. Hughes is a bit of stretch of mine, but I love his stuff as well.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 30, 2008 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

what happened to bucholz last year?

when he 1st came up in 07 and was just dominanting, i was getting kinda worried about him, but last year he was just horrible

by RaysOfHope on Dec 30, 2008 11:02 PM EST up reply actions

He struggled

He lost control of his FB, and lost a bit of confidence. He was also a bit unlucky, and all in all he had a lost season. His off-speed stuff is still filthy, and he seemed to get his FB back in the minors towards the end of the season, so he should rebound in 2009.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 31, 2008 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

I'd say all three are on par.

Obviously Hughes and Buchholz seemed to take steps back last year, but both still profile as future studs. Price this year is like Buchholz going into last year.

I actually think people are really underrating Hughes. He has been insane in the minors and is a year younger than Price and 2 years younger than Buchholz.

All 3 have redic minor-league stats with eye-popping K totals. It is very hard to say any profiles better than the other, but all three are very good young pitchers.

by rglass44 on Dec 31, 2008 12:09 PM EST up reply actions

Hughes is underrated, no question

That ‘Chamberlain-Kennedy-Hughes’ thing did no good to the Yankees young pitchers, they’re too different to be put together like that.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 31, 2008 2:11 PM EST up reply actions

I read his statement as saying that in addition to our pipeline

we also have a stacked rotation 1-5, which is probably better, top to bottom, then who the Sox are going to trot out there. I would mostly agree with this statement, although any projection on Lester & Matsuzaka should probably show them returning to orbit a little bit. I think they both pitched over their heads last year. Lester is good, but he was very confident for long stretches.

Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up that much.

~George Costanza~

by Sandy Kazmir on Dec 29, 2008 11:03 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed about our rotations

The Rays look a bit better right now. If that’s what he meant, then he’s right.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 29, 2008 11:12 AM EST up reply actions

You would take Bowden or Buchholz next year over Price and Sonnanstine?

Obviously not, that’s why you sign Wake and Penny

by Rays4242 on Dec 29, 2008 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

^^that is what I meant

The Rays and Sox rotations, for arguments sake are even 1-3

Now this discussion is about what is after that, and how both organizations view the backend of their rotations

While the Sox have a nice assortment of quality young arms at different stages of development, to go along with the top 3 already in their ML rotation, they feel that it is necessary to have 2 vets mixed in to the competition at the backend of their rotation. Wheras the Rays have 2 guys they are confident giving 180+ innings next year. If there were any doubt that we couldnt fill the last 2 spots in the rotation in 2009 with Price, Sonnanstine, Niemann, Davis or Talbot and see quality production from them then we too would’ve signed a cheap, veteran insurance plan or 2

by Rays4242 on Dec 29, 2008 12:32 PM EST up reply actions

This brings up an interesting question relating to D. Price.

How many innings would you let him throw this year? He should have the fewest pitching out of the 5-spot, but I would think 180 is too many for essentially his first season.

Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up that much.

~George Costanza~

by Sandy Kazmir on Dec 29, 2008 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

I think around 150 is a safe bet

I guess what I meant was the Rays front office is confident with the backend of our rotation and that they wont consider brining anyone in

by Rays4242 on Dec 29, 2008 2:34 PM EST up reply actions

He is 23, though.

He threw around 125 last year and didn’t get his first start until mid-May. Iw ouldn’t be surprised if they used him out of the fifth spot to limit his innings, and that was all they did. Any tired-arm or anything and they’d skip his start. They’s likely try to limit his innings, which would be one reason to have Kaz at the 2-spot in the rotation. I’d expect they just limit his pitch count very severely for most of the season.

by rglass44 on Dec 29, 2008 2:51 PM EST up reply actions

Fair enough

The Rays right now have a better rotation than the Red Sox, that’s why we sign Penny. Both are far better than the Yankees, that’s why they sign anything that moves and can hit a baseball (or maybe not, they even signed Kevin Cash!). I almost feel bad for the Blue Jays, who could be a powerhouse playing in the AL West.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 29, 2008 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

Their once promising staff is a shambles right now

Marcum and McGowan both hurt, No AJ, Roy might have to throw 2 CG’s a week

Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up that much.

~George Costanza~

by Sandy Kazmir on Dec 29, 2008 4:54 PM EST up reply actions

McGowan will be back soon.

Purcey/Romero(s)/Litsch/Clement/ect. will be fine.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 29, 2008 7:09 PM EST up reply actions

How are the Sox and Rays "far better" than the Yanks rotation?

Sabathia = 2007 cy young

Wang = career 3.79 ERA and only 28 years old

Joba and Hughes = great prospects but still question marks right now

Burnett = I am not a fan, but he is a good arm

I think they are every bit comparable to the Sox and Rays, and btw this Bowden v Davis talk has gotten way out of hand. Do you remember where the argument started? I was arguing the stability of the backend of our rotation vs the stability of the backend of the Sox rotation. Davis isnt in the mix for our rotation and Bowden is thats why you signed Penny. If Davis was needed to be our 4th or 5th starter we wouldve signed Brad Penny also

by Rays4242 on Dec 31, 2008 12:29 PM EST up reply actions

Yanks rotation is better

But Hughes, Joba and Kennedy are all question marks, Wang is overrated, and Burnett and CC may have injury problems. It’s a good rotation, it’s just not on level with the Red Sox and the Rays.

I missed your point about the rotations, and so I compared Davis to Bowden because that’s what I understood from what you first said.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 31, 2008 2:08 PM EST up reply actions

I hate how people say Wang is overated

but never have an explanation. Wang is a beast, and is highly underated.

He came to NY from overseas as a 25 year old and has not struggled at any time. The 2 full years he pitched before injuries hit him last season, he was a 3.65 ERA pitcher and as much as I hate using WINS to measure SPs I think in some cases they are important. When a guy has back to back 19 win seasons I think it is worth noting. He pitches to contact and gets a ton of grounball outs. I seem to always remember him pitching well vs the Rays also.

If you judge the guy based on K:BB you will be completely mislead about just how dominating his stuff is.

I would take Wang over Dice-K without really hesitating

by Rays4242 on Dec 31, 2008 7:01 PM EST up reply actions

Wang is a good pitcher

He pitches to contact, however. That’s never too good. His career high in K/9 is 5.12, he’s getting grounders at a smaller rate every year since his first at ML level. He’s okay, but not great.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 31, 2008 8:29 PM EST up reply actions