Brad Penny Signs With Japanese Team For 2012

From an AP story:

The Softbank Hawks of Japan's Pacific League have signed former major league pitcher Brad Penny to a one-year contract.

Softbank announced the signing of free agent Penny on its website Sunday

The 33-year-old right-hander is expected to arrive in Japan on Wednesday. Financial terms of the deal were not released.

Penny began his career in the majors as one-third of a vaunted group of young Marlins starters that also included Ryan Dempster, A.J. Burnett and (briefly) Josh Beckett. Penny's best seasons (so far) came with the Dodgers in 2006 and '7, when he earned All-Star berths in both season and won 32 games with only 13 losses. But he was hurt in 2008, 2009 and '10, and in 2011 he posted a 5.30 ERA in 31 starts with the Tigers. Relegated to the bullpen during Detroit's postseason run, Penny's contribution consisted solely of 1⅓ innings -- during which he gave up five runs -- in the Tigers' decisive 15-5 loss in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.

If his fate with the Tigers wasn't sealed already, it probably was then.