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Brad Penny

Marlins Interested In Brad Penny

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Like their expansion cousins, the Marlins are interested in adding Brad Penny, according to the Miami Herald. The Marlins will face competition, since the Rockies, White Sox, Rays and Rangers are also "thought to have interest" in the power righty. Penny pitched with the Marlins for five years at the beginning of his career, so he's familiar with the organization.

However, Buster Olney suggested this morning that Penny probably assured the Red Sox he wouldn't sign with an AL contender. Otherwise, the Red Sox could have kept him around long enough to prevent him from gaining post-season eligibility with an American League rival. 

Rockies Interested In Penny

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The Rockies have some interest in Brad Penny, who was just released by the Red Sox, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. Renck sees indications that the Rockies have a decent shot at signing Penny, who should clear waivers Monday. At that point, Penny would cost the team less than $100k.

The Rockies, who had some interest in Penny over the winter, need pitching depth now that Aaron Cook appears likely to miss at least two more weeks. The club recently stashed Russ Ortiz in Triple A, so he could provide depth if they don't add Penny.

As Buster Olney pointed out this morning, Penny may embrace the chance to compete in the same division as his former team, the NL West-leading Dodgers.

Olney On Mets, Penny

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ESPN.com's Buster Olney says Omar Minaya will keep his job as Mets GM. However, Minaya has developed an uncanny- and unwelcome- knack for turning ordinary events into P.R. disasters. Should the team decide it wants someone else to represent the organization, Minaya suggests seven candidates, some of whom would almost certainly not be available:

  • Olney lists A's GM Billy Beane, Brewers GM Doug Melvin, former Mets manager Bobby Valentine, Cardinals manager and free agent-to-be Tony La Russa, former MLB manager Buck Showalter, Phillies exec Pat Gillick and Indians GM Mark Shapiro as candidates the Mets should at least consider inquiring about.
  • Brad Penny is a free agent and the A's are looking for veteran pitching. That's one possible match, but Olney has an even better one.
  • The Colorado Rockies could use another starter. Not only is Penny affordable, but he's had more success in the NL and it would give him the chance to compete against his former team, the Dodgers. As Olney shows, some bad blood may linger between Penny and the Dodgers.

Odds And Ends: Oliver, Wolf, Penny

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Links for Thursday morning…

Red Sox Release Brad Penny

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10:54pm: John Tomase of the Boston Herald just spoke with Penny, who asked for and was granted his release Wednesday night from the Red Sox.

“I asked for my release and I got it,” Penny told the Herald after Wednesday's contest.  “I enjoyed playing with all of the guys. I played for a great manager on a great team. I had a great time. I enjoyed it. I wish things had worked out better, but that happens.”  He's hoping to sign on with another team before the end of August in order to become eligible for postseason play.  Obviously he's looking to land with a contender.

10:11pm: Nick Carfado of the Boston Globe suspects the Red Sox may soon cut ties with right-hander Brad Penny.  As Carfado reports,

After [Wednesday's] game, the Sox brass, which included owner John Henry, general manager Theo Epstein, director of baseball operations Brian O'Halloran and Terry Francona met with Penny before Francona's post-game press conference. Penny then chatted briefly with Red Sox traveling secretary Jack McCormick and left without speaking.

The Red Sox need a 40-man roster spot for newly acquired reliever Billy Wagner, and Tim Wakefield's fine performance Wednesday night — seven innings, one run, three hits — should have the club feeling confident about dumping a pitcher.  The 31-year-old Penny has a 5.61 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 24 starts this season and has expressed a lack of interest in joining Boston's bullpen corps.  It's all specualtion and rumor at this point, but a release or DFAing does make some sense.  Keep in mind that he can no longer be traded.

Odds And Ends: Wagner, Santana, Strasburg

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More links for Tuesday afternoon…

  • Today's chat is coming up at 2pm CST.
  • Billy Wagner's agent, Bean Stringfellow tells Joe Haggerty that his client changed his mind at the "last minute" and decided to go to Boston. The agent told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that Wagner "threw caution to the wind."
  • Finally, some relatively good news for the Mets. Jon Heyman of SI.com reports via Twitter that doctors recommend arthroscopic surgery for Johan Santana, who should be back for next year. Ben Shpigel reports that the surgery will end Santana's season.
  • As MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports, Stephen Strasburg will pitch in the Arizona Fall League this year
  • Tom Verducci of SI.com marvels at the success of the older Yankees hitters. Within his article, he suggests Brad Penny is no longer cut out to start in the majors.

Team Claimed Penny; Red Sox Pulled Him Back

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An unknown team claimed Brad Penny earlier in the month, only to see the Red Sox pull him back, sources tell WEEI.com's Rob Bradford. The window for the Red Sox to deal Penny to the claiming team has passed, so they won't be able to trade him at all.

Penny, who lost his rotation spot, makes just $5MM plus incentives, so he's a more affordable option than Doug Davis or Jon Garland, but the Red Sox wanted more than salary relief or they would have handed Penny over. He isn't likely to net the Red Sox any compensation picks, since he doesn't project to be a Type B free agent.

Edes On Lee, Feliciano, Pirates

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Yahoo's Gordon Edes says the Phillies and Dodgers are interested in Cliff Lee, but the Indians aren't anxious to move him. Not only would it mean trading Cy Young Award winners in back-to-back years, it would diminish the team's chances at contending next season. Here are the rest of Edes' rumors:

  • The Dodgers would have interest in Pedro Feliciano if the Mets become sellers.
  • The Brewers scouted Brad Penny over the weekend, but a trade seems unlikely now that Tim Wakefield's on the DL.  
  • At least one NL executive believes the Pirates are ready to move almost anyone. Zach Duke, Paul Maholm, Matt Capps, John Grabow, Freddy Sanchez, Adam LaRoche and Jack Wilson could all be targets.
  • It looks like the Reds would listen to offers for Francisco Cordero. However, he has no-trade protection and an big contract. 
  • The Red Sox had a scout watch Nick Johnson this weekend.

Brad Penny’s Future

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The Red Sox have a surplus of starting pitching, and ESPN.com's Buster Olney says it's possible they'll deal Brad Penny for a Grade B prospect in the next couple weeks. We've heard very little about Penny in the last month, but he could fit on a team like the Brewers, who are short on starters.

Olney says the Red Sox would almost certainly not offer Penny arbitration after the season, so they could deal him now to get something in return for their investment. Penny doesn't profile as a Type A or B free agent now, so trading him now would be the surest way of obtaining talent in return. However, the Red Sox could keep him to maintain their enviable rotation depth.

Trade Candidates: Starting Pitchers

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Roy Halladay's availability changes everything, because teams in search of an ace can target him instead of settling for lesser pitchers. But many arms could be moved in the next 17 days and some could even be traded in August. These pitchers, who could all conceivably be dealt, are ranked from highest 2009 salary to lowest:

  • Roy Halladay, Blue Jays – At $14.25MM he's pricey, but he's one of the top pitchers in the game, capable of transforming a team's playoff chances like C.C. Sabathia did last year.
  • Javier Vazquez, Braves – The rumors surrounding Vazquez have quieted lately, but he could be moved. He makes $11.5MM this year and next and can't be traded to any Western division team.  
  • Gil Meche, Royals – Meche makes $11MM this year and has $24MM remaining on his deal afterwards.
  • Doug Davis, D'Backs – The D'Backs aren't impressed with the players the Brewers are willing to offer for their pitcher, who makes $8.75MM this year. Davis has been productive all season.
  • Jon Garland, D'Backs – Another solid but unspectacular arm, Garland makes $6.25MM this year. No team acquiring him should count on receiving picks if he leaves as a free agent, because Garland has a clause in his contract that prevents teams from offering him arbitration if he has Type A stauts.
  • Cliff Lee, Indians – He makes just $5.75MM this year and the Indians have an affordable $8MM option for 2010, so they'd have to see an awesome offer to part with Lee, who's following up his Cy Young season with another solid year.
  • Brad Penny, Red Sox – Now that they've called on Clay Buchholz, the Red Sox once again have a surplus of big league pitchers. At $5MM plus incentives, Penny's affordable this year. 
  • Ian Snell, Pirates – He's pitching well in Triple A, where he struck out 17 in one game. The Pirates have tried to move Snell and his $3MM salary.
  • Paul Mahom, Pirates – The Pirates have been willing to sell and Maholm's been effective this year. He makes $2MM, and has at least $11MM remaining on his deal after the year.
  • Brian Bannister, Royals – At just $1.7MM, he's one of the cheaper starters out there.  
  • Carl Pavano, Indians – The Indians aren't contenders and Pavano has pitched better this season than he did in four years with the Yankees. He makes a base salary of just $1.5MM, but that could rise as high as $6.8MM because of incentives.
  • Jonathan Sanchez, Giants – He makes less than $500k and, as we found out this weekend, he has the potential to be dominant.  

Let's not forget about some free agent pitchers like Ben Sheets (may be injured), Pedro Martinez (about to sign), Odalis Perez and Paul Byrd.

None of the following pitchers are available now, but they could be if their teams fall from contention: Bronson Arroyo, Doug Brocail, Jason Marquis, Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn.

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