The Padres will sign Wily Mo Pena to a minor league deal and assign the former big leaguer to Triple A Portland, according to Mario Rojas of Candela Deportiva. The team has not confirmed the agreement, but Dan Hayes of the North County Times has (via Twitter).
Pena, 28, has been playing for the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League since late May and was in tonight's starting lineup, according to a Bluefish public relations official. Nothing is official now, but the Padres appear to be moving towards a deal with Pena.
In parts of seven major league seasons, Pena has a .253/.307/.447 line. He hasn't played in the majors since 2008, but he did hit 26 homers on the 2004 Reds. Padres outfielders have combined to hit 26 homers (one more than Jose Bautista) in 1007 at bats this season, so they may hope Pena can return to the majors and add pop to an unintimidating lineup.
no risk involved, like the move
He hasn’t been the same since he quit taking steroids.
any proof of that at all,even if anecdotal.
Making blind steroid accusations is for people who don’t even have the balls to be garden variety internet trolls.
I wish he’d gotten a better chance in Boston,be glad if he catches on somewhere else.
He had every conceivable chance to prove he was not completely useless as a baseball player.
Guys who can’t field, have no plate discipline, lack baserunning ability and cannot hit anything other than a fastball down the middle are not in high demand.
The ONLY silver lining to his time in Boston, from a Sox fan perspective, is that he eventually got us Chris Carter who eventually got us Billy Wagner who got us an extra first rounder.
World Series bound now for sure!
“Bats, they are sick. I cannot hit curveball. Straightball I hit it very much. Curveball, bats are afraid. I ask Jobu to come, take fear from bats. I offer him cigar, rum. He will come.” – Pedro Cerrano/Wily Mo Pena.
I wouldn’t leave that rum sitting around with this group.
“It’s very bad to drink Jobu’s rum. VERY bad.”
Up your butt Jo-Bu!
“Hats for bats. Keeps bats warm….gracias”
Sweet.
Wow, I think you just explained why I love Wily Mo Pena so much relative to the quality of player he is.
are you saying jesus christ cant hit a curve ball?
No downside, but not sure about the upside either. Denorfia, and Cunningham have been on the Portland shuttle, so adding Pena to the mix?
Please tell me this is strictly for the sake of minor league depth, and is not the Padres answer to their outfield woes. I can’t help but wonder if they are moving one of their prospects for a bat and signing Pena to replace him.
Damn. I wanted to see him playing for the Brockton Rox.
A RH strike out artist that does not field well and has been out of baseball since last season and the ML since 2008? I do not see how that is a fit either in the Padres system or on the Padres ML team.
Who sits in AAA for him to get playing time? Hunter? Not likely. Durango? Not likely. Chalk? Cooper? Who?
I just don’t see this as realistic.
MOVES, stay tuned…
Durango is with the big club. The only OF’s they have are Hunter and Cooper. They didn’t promote anyone when Durango joined the big club, Barfield has been patrolling the OF down in Portland lately.
I know that but what happens when Latos Adams and Venable come back? Will durango stay up? more than likely no. what im saying is this seems like either a depth move or a precursor to a trade possibly involving our minor league outfielders.
@NCTPadres – Dan Hayes confirmed a team source says Padres signed WorthlessMo Pena to a minor league deal. Padres must have traded someone else away or there is no need for this piece of &*@#&@.
NOOOO I was going to go to the riversharks game and see Wily Mo Pena play now that hes a padre i guess i can’t
Does anyone else get the feeling that this might represent an end of Cedric Hunter as a Padre? Either him or Durango.
If memory serves me, the Brewers had interested or scouted Durango last year. I talked about him on the Hart article and I believe I mentioned that. I wondered the same thing…. obviously lol
Yes, first claiming Quintin Berry and now signing Willy Mo i do believe some OF’s will be packaged.
maybe this is a sign that our Minors aren’t as good as we thought? Eeither way if an OF has to go i would rather have it be hunter, i like Durango’s speed too much to release him/ trade for nada
They obviously aren’t going to release either nor trade them for nothing. Durango is exciting and would fit in nicely if only he were a better defender. Cedric Hunter is two years younger and probably has the higher ceiling of the two.
i think durango is an alright defender i think his weakness is his inability to catch up to anything 95+, he needs to improve that or he is not gonna have a job much longer
Everyone has guys like this stashed in the upper minors, and the Padres in particular have their strength in the lower levels.
Maybe a package of Durango and Frieri to the Royals for Dejesus? Or to the Brewers ?
I don’t think that would be enough. Padres would likely have to add a decent prospect (Leubke, Lollis?)
Agreed. (At least)
Don’t do those deals. I don’t mind trading Frieri cause his stock is super high, but don’t trade Durango. The team would be best served by cutting Matt Stairs. And as fans let’s all hope that Stairs isn’t DHing if the pads make the WS. They’d be better off with Durango, Willy Mo, Venable, Cunningham, Gwynn.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: Durango is the answer to the leadoff question for the playoffs. Bat him there or 2 cause he can bunt, steal, and walk.
I’d rather see them pick up Wily Mo Coyote than this hack.
Didn’t the Nationals give him all the chances in the world to prove himself and he couldn’t do it? He is a Modern day Billy Ashley…. Love Billy though…wish he could have made it…but had that same problem with Mr. curveball
I just dont know about this. Unless we do get Hart, or DeJesus (sp?) I just dont have faith in Willy Mo…just seems like a stretch. I think we need someone solid to back up Gonzo…not someone that they can walk gonzo and throw 3 curves and be out of the inning…Maybe in the minor’s someone will just throw a Curve to willy mo…and he will learn how to hit it…who knows…