Blue Jays sign Brad Penny to minor league deal

The Blue Jays have signed Brad Penny to a minor league deal.

Brad is 37 and has played 14 seasons in the majors, with a 121-101 record and 4.29 ERA in 349 games, 319 starts. He last pitched in the majors with the Marlins, throwing 26 innings, with a 6.58 ERA in 4 starts and 4 relief appearances. He's pitched for 6 major league teams.

His best season was back in 2007, making 33 starts for the Dodgers. He went 16-4 with a 3.03 ERA in 208 innings.

That adds another arm into the mix for the Bisons.

And, in other Blue Jays new, or former Blue Jays news, Alex Anthopoulos was given the George Gross Award for Toronto Sun Sportsman of the Year, just to twist the knife in Shapiro's back a tiny bit more. In the story in the Sun Alex says he is enjoying his time away from the game.

"I've been pushing hard since 2000, from interning to working. So a little bit of a break now is good for me," said Anthopoulos.

"I got married and, in the limo to the chapel, I'm structuring an offer for Aroldis Chapman. On my honeymoon, I'm talking to the Dodgers about a trade for Scott Downs. And I'm at Mount Sinai Hospital, with my son being born, and we had an outfielder go down and I'm trying to get Scott Podsednik.

"I've never had a break like this before, so for now, it's nice and I'm enjoying it."