MLB: Brad Penny to St. Louis
ESPN’s Buster Olney is reporting that the St. Louis Cardinals and Brad Penny have come to terms on a one year contract. The deal is reportedly worth $7.5 million with $1.5 million worth of incentives and will be executed upon Penny passing team physical some time this week.
Penny has reportedly gotten himself in shape and has lost roughly 15 to 20 pounds since the season ended for Penny at the end of September. If Penny is in shape and is over the shoulder problems that have plagued him the past couple of years this is potentially a big deal for the Cards.
He pitched well for the Giants after he was waived by the Red Sox going 4-1 with a 2.59 ERA in the month of September. At his peak with the Dodgers during 2006-07 he went 32-13 with a 3.67 ERA and finished third in the Cy Young balloting in 2007.
Penny’s signing likely means Joel Piniero and/or John Smoltz will not be back and hopefully it means Todd Wellemeyer is not longer an option for the rotation.
It seems likely that the Cards are looking to put Penny in the rotation behind Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, and Kyle Lohse. With rumors having Piniero commanding a long term deal worth over $10 million per season it seems unlikely he will be back in St. Louis next season.
