For Immediate Release 

August 27, 2009

  

RED SOX ADD LEFT-HANDED PITCHER BILLY WAGNER TO ACTIVE ROSTER;

RELEASE RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER BRAD PENNY

 

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox today added left-handed pitcher Billy Wagner to the active Major League roster and released right-handed pitcher Brad Penny from the roster.

 

The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

 

Wagner, who will wear No. 13 (Alex Gonzalez will switch to No. 3) and be available for tonight’s game against the White Sox at Fenway Park, was acquired from the Mets on Tuesday (August 25) in exchange for two players to be named later.  The 38-year-old lefty has appeared in two games for the Mets in 2009, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.  In 45 relief outings with New York last season, Wagner was 0-1 with 27 saves in 34 chances and a 2.30 ERA (12 ER/47.0 IP) before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery on his left elbow on September 10.

 

A six-time National League All-Star, Wagner is 39-37 with 385 saves and a 2.39 ERA (218 ER/820.0 IP) in 767 career relief appearances over parts of 15 Major League seasons with the Astros (1995-2003), Phillies (2004-05) and Mets (2006-09).  His 385 saves rank second all-time among left-handed pitchers, trailing only John Franco’s 424, and sixth overall on the all-time saves list.  He has recorded 30 or more saves eight times and set a career high with 44 for Houston in 2003.  Wagner’s career .189 opponent batting average is the third-lowest mark among active relievers.

 

Penny, 31, has gone 7-8 with a 5.61 ERA (82 ER/131.2 IP), 89 strikeouts and 42 walks in 24 starts with the Red Sox this season.  Signed by Boston as a free agent on January 9, 2009, he has a career 101-83 record in 273 Major League games (269 starts) with the Marlins (2000-04), Dodgers (2004-08) and Red Sox (2009). 

 

— RED SOX —–