The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks have released right-hander Brad Penny at his request after just one start in Japan, according to this Sanspo article passed along by Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker (Twitter link). The right-hander signed with the Hawks this past offseason, but shoulder pain sidelined him for much of the past month and he appeared to have trouble adapting to Japanese baseball.
"It was the individual's strong desire to leave," according to the team.
Penny and the SoftBank Hawks agreed to a $4MM contract with $3.5MM in performance bonuses this February. The 33-year-old Legacy Sports client posted a 5.30 ERA with 3.7 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 181 2/3 innings for the Tigers last season.
Headcase.
Boy has Penny lost his value. He was something to behold when he was shiny and new with the Marlins, all those years ago.
Its the whole early 2000s Marlins starting rotation that went downhill. Willis, Penny, Burnett, Clement, Redman, Pavano and to an extent Beckett and Dempster. During the 03 season Willis looked like an ace and now…
To be fair – It is 2012, after all. None of us are getting any younger.
Thats not really the point, most of those guys looked like aces when they came up and none of them really ever lived up to those expectations other than maybe Beckett…Also Victor Zambrano…
Funny how time works, huh? A decade ago I could look at my toes, and now…
Hhaha I meant more on the lines of none of them ever reaching or even sustaining their potential. I remember watching the 2003 World Series and Dontrelle Willis looked like a sure ace but he never lived up to those expectations. Clement was obviously injured most of the time. Burnett had a few decent years with the Blue Jays.
Lol, I know. Just kidding.
The Long Island Ducks GM is scrambling to the phone right this second.
Maybe Dan Duquette as well. This type of sign fits him to a “T” now that he is running an organization again.
dear lord i hope not.
They obviously wouldn’t have to pay him right
Maybe pennies on the dollar, if anything
Should the Royals go after Penny? Cant be worse than Sanchez or Hochever!
I had a feeling the Penny wasn’t going to be successful in a market dominated by the Yen…
my guess is he don´t like Sushi
Brad Penny needs to call it a career his done!!!
Dear Brad, if the arm is not 100%, relax, rest, rebuild… take the rest of the season off. Get the arm back an make a run at 2013. You got the cash and it will do you more good than bouncing around the indy leagues for the rest of the summer.
If Penny could be convinced to give relieving a chance, he might be able to prolong his career as a middle reliever. Sure his arm has always been an issue, but starting seems to be out for US teams and last time he pitched in the US, he was still throwing upwards of 98mph and had that off and on splitter still working for him.
Brad penny seems to be a bit of a d-bag. He is always badly out of shape, and has a reputation that fits this story. He did the same thing to the Cardinals. Also, he was progressing fine in Ni-gun. He didn’t have his heart in it, and during his first start in Japan he was utterly obliterated. All tests show no structural damage.
This guy hit rock bottom like Kenny Powers pitching in the Mexican League. Can he make it back or will he throw in the towel? Tune in next week, exciting stuff!!!
You know you’re bad when you can’t even make it in the Japanese leagues
Which makes me think that the “soft”bank hawks should have been a great fit…