Boston Red Sox Place Brad Penny on Waivers

August 31, 2009 on 6:28 am | In News | Comments Off

Tim Wakefield is back in Boston, Billy Wagner is in, and Brad Penny and John Smoltz are out. Quite the shakeup for the Sox this past week. Brad Penny was recently released by the Red Sox and placed on waivers.

Penny told Boston Herald writer John Tomase the news following after Boston’s big win over Chicago: “I asked for my release and I got it. 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.”

Penny (7-8, 5.61 ERA) will go on waivers Thursday and is expected to clear Monday. He hopes to be a starting pitcher for a playoff contender and that getting this done now will potentially allow him to be added to a team’s postseason roster.

Like John Smoltz before him, he should run back to the National League where it’s entirely possible he could throw a no-hitter in his first start given the offensive disparity between the leagues. Converting to a closer this off-season might not be a bad idea either.

Penny made $5 million in Boston during the 2009 season. There was potential for him to reach the $8 million mark, but he obviously didn’t perform to expectations.

Penny looked good through the beginning of the season. While his ERA was always somewhat high, he started out with a 6-2 win-loss record that continuously worsened as the season progressed. Many had thought the Sox would ship Penny off once Smoltz returned, but this never happened.

In his last eleven starts since he was 6-2, Penny has only won one game. He had a great month of June, July was a bit worse, and August was even worse, with an 8.31 ERA during the month. His last time on the mound, Penny let up 8 runs in just four innings against the Yankees.

With John Smoltz and Brad Penny out of Boston, a new leaf has turned. Things are looking slightly better for the Sox.

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