Brad Penny nearing deal with Japanese team
Brad Penny - S - Detroit Tigers
Feb. 2, 2012 - 10:50 AM ET
Brad Penny confirmed via his Twitter account Wednesday that he "might be in Japan next week."
We learned last week that Penny was "weighing an opportunity" to pitch for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Japan's Pacific League. Japanese website Sponichi is now reporting that a deal is close. "The deal has not been finalized yet, but I hear we are in the final stages," said Fukuoka team chairman Sadaharu Oh. "We see him as a pitcher for our starting rotation." Penny wrote on his Twitter account Wednesday that while he had offers from MLB teams, he had a "much better offer in Japan." The 33-year-old right-hander had a lousy 5.30 ERA and 74/62 K/BB ratio over 181 2/3 innings last season for the Tigers.
Source: MLive.com