Penny, Who Vacated Locker Early, Hopefully Didn't Leave Anything Else Behind

It looks like Dodger pitcher Brad Penny, solid through most of his Dodger years but troubled in 2008, won't be back for 2009, as the Dodgers declined his option and instead paid a $2M buyout rather than a $9.25M salary for next year's services:

After winning 16 games in both 2006 and 2007, Penny went 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA in 2008, spending three stints on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis and he missed the postseason. With Penny gone and Derek Lowe a free agent, the veteran of the current starting rotation is Japanese import Hiroki Kuroda, technically a Major League rookie this year, followed by 24-year-old Chad Billingsley and 20-year-old rookie Clayton Kershaw. No other current Dodger made more than seven starts in 2008.

Suddenly, Sabathia looks a little better (albeit larger, in both salary and girth, than Penny).

Farewell, Brad, and thank you for the (mostly 2006 and 2007) memories! Of course, for updated Brad Penny news, be sure to check the robust and current information on BradPenny.com, which includes photos like this (from John Soohoo) of "Penny, Tommy Lasorda, Joe Torre" (I've got news for you, Brad: that ain't Joe Torre. But I don't know who it is.)