Royals sign veteran pitcher Brad Penny to Minor League deal

KANSAS CITY, MO - The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has signed two-time All-Star pitcher Brad Penny to a minor league contract for the 2014 season, which includes an invitation to Major League Spring Training, which opens on Friday, February 14 in Surprise, AZ, when pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report.

Penny, 35, is a two-time All-Star (2006-07) with the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning 16 games in each season. He led the National League in winning percentage in 2007 (.800), going 16-4 with a 3.03 ERA (70 ER in 208.0 innings). The right-handed hurler last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2012, with the San Francisco Giants, going 0-1 with a 6.16 ERA in 22 appearances out of the bullpen. Penny has pitched in 13 Major League seasons, spending time with Florida (2000-04), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2004-08), Boston (2009), San Francisco (2009, 2012), St. Louis (2010) and Detroit (2011). He was originally a fifth round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1996 draft. The veteran pitcher has helped three different teams reach the postseason, including in 2003 when he was a member of the World Champion Marlins' starting rotation. Penny went 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA in two World Series starts that season against the Yankees.

Pitchers and catchers workout for the first time on Saturday, February 15. The remainder of the squad reports on Wednesday, February 19 and begin workouts Thursday, February 20.

For more information, members of the media may contact the Royals Media Relations Department at (816) 921-8000.