Softbank Signs Brad Penny
The Softbank Hawks have officially announced the acquisition of righty Brad Penny, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun (edit: confirmed on the team’s website). Penny’s deal is for one year and $3m plus performance bonuses. Sanspo adds that Penny will travel to Japan on February 8th, and join Softbank’s camp on the 9th.
Softbank’s rotation was gutted this offseason with the loss of Toshiya Sugiuchi, Tsuyoshi Wada and DJ Houlton, so Penny’s presence fills a big void. I expect that the #2 spot in Softbank’s rotation is his to lose.
05/02/2012 at 12:51 pm Permalink
$3 million seems like a big risk for a pitcher who has had major injuries two of the last four seasons, carries a lot of weight and will be 34 in 2012. Penny probably has enough left to pitch well in Japan if he stays healthy, but that’s a big if.
05/02/2012 at 12:57 pm Permalink
Another Oklahoman added.
http://www.npbtracker.com/2011/06/yomiuri-going-after-josh-fields/#comments
09/02/2012 at 9:30 am Permalink
I think Penny will do well. His issues in the US were that he was a power pitcher without the power to really pitch that way any longer in MLB. In NPB, his 91 MPH fastball should be enough to set up the rest of his stuff, so I can see him being effective for at least the first year.