MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch reports (via Twitter) that the Pirates have sold the rights to right-handers Vinnie Chulk and Hayden Penn to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and Chiba Lotte Marines, respectively. The moves have been in the works for a little while now but were just finalized today.
Chulk has pitched for Toronto, San Francisco and Cleveland over his seven years in the big leagues. In 276 1/3 major league innings, all of which came out of the bullpen, the righty posted a 4.33 ERA and a 1.75 K/BB ratio. Chulk signed a minor league deal with Pittsburgh last December and had an uneven season at Triple-A Indianapolis; he had a 10.5 K/9 ratio but also a 4.96 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 28 appearances.
Penn, drafted by the Orioles in the fifth round of the 2002 amateur draft, was a well-regarded prospect in Baltimore's system, ranked as the 81st-best prospect in the game by Baseball America in their pre-2006 listing. He was never able to translate that promise to the majors, however, as shown by his 9.51 career ERA over 33 games (15 of them starts) with Baltimore, Florida and Pittsburgh.
Going to Learn the Ole Shooto pitch eh? If Tom Selleck Cant Hit no one can lol and don’t call him Chief!
Vinnie an Hayden wait around the locker room for 5 hours after hearing the news…in hopes that someone comes out an says they just got punked…lol
Kyle Kendrick, lol.
Are they consulted before they are sold? They obviously have a choice to move there. Or are they literally just called in to the office and told they have just been sold to japan.
Yes, the players are involved and have to agree. They have to negotiate contracts with the acquiring team and clear waivers as well.
Looks like Pirates’ ownership has found a new way to make money while still managing to avoid putting a quality product on the field.
HAHAHAHA good one dude
The title sounds like this is a slave market don’t you think? “Chulk, Penn Sold To Japanese Teams”
vinnie choke, adios.
At this point Hayden Panettiere is probably more valuable to the Pirates than Hayden Penn. It’s a good idea to send him to Japan.