9:30am update: Buster Olney says he hears a deal has been agreed upon for $3m, plus $3m in incentives.
6 a.m. update:
FoxSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi says a deal is close for one year, $3 million.
Just a few updates tonight on the Brad Penny front.
Penny, who is on Twitter, reported tonight he may know his new home by the end of the night. (Via MLB Trade Rumors)
ESPN.com's Buster Olney says on Twitter the Tigers are the front runner and that he believes Detroit would be a good fit thanks to Comerica Park's dimensions and the fact the Tigers would be able to put a good bullpen behind him.
Obviously we've talked about Penny ... well, we started to talk about Penny and then the conversation got wildly off topic. But that's the Internet.
He had a tough year in Boston, his only year in the American League. He is battling back from a shoulder strain that took him out of last season.
Last year, he had an ERA of 3.23 and an FIP of 3.44 with the Cardinals but those numbers were higher in Boston in 2009 (5.60, 4.55).
He's not a huge strikeout pitcher (15-20%), but he's better than his chief competition for the fifth spot, Armando Galarraga.
I like the idea of a one-year deal because the Tigers really do need to add some depth and competition at the back of the rotation. Past the five slated for the major league team, there's not a lot of pitchers currently in the system who could step into the rotation if an injury of ineffectiveness reared their ugly heads.