Pena re-signed Friday with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization, Jee-ho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports.
Pena went over to the KBO in the middle of the 2022 season, after being released from the Triple-A affiliate of the Mets, and has since posted a 3.64 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 219:89 K:BB in 45 starts covering 245 innings. The 33-year-old right-hander will make a $650,000 salary on this new deal and can earn another $200,000 through performance-based incentives.
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Felix Pena: Parts ways with Mets
Rotowire
Pena exercised an opt out in his contract with the Mets on Tuesday and intends to pitch in the Korea Baseball Organization, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
It's unclear whether or not the right-hander already has a deal lined up in the KBO, but he's poised to continue his professional career overseas. Pena appeared in eight games for Triple-A Syracuse this season and posted a 4.06 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 26:9 K:BB across 31 innings, and he has a 4.66 ERA in 104 games over his big-league career.
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Mets' Felix Pena: Joins taxi squad
Rotowire
Pena will be part of the Mets' three-man taxi squad for their seven-game road trip to begin the season, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Though Pena wasn't able to secure a spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen, he could be the next man up to join the roster if New York should have a need for an extra reliever during its four-game series in Washington and three-game series in Philadelphia. If Pena isn't called up before the road trip ends, he'll likely be assigned to Triple-A Syracuse.
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Mets' Felix Pena: Available to pitch Tuesday
Rotowire
Pena (visa issues) is listed among the Mets' relievers scheduled to appear behind starter Chris Bassitt in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
A delayed arrival to the Mets' big-league camp while he waited to resolve his immigration status, Pena has apparently joined the club in Florida. Since he's expected to prepare for a relief role this season, Pena shouldn't require any buildup time, but the workouts that he's already missed as a result of his visa-related absence might be enough to prevent him from making the Opening Day roster. Pena, who made two relief appearances in the majors with the Angels in 2021, is attending Mets camp as a non-roster invitee and is likely to begin the campaign at Triple-A Syracuse.
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Mets' Felix Pena: Slowed by visa troubles
Rotowire
Pena has been delayed in his arrival at camp due to visa issues, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
As long as the issues are sorted out soon, Pena should have plenty of time to get ready for Opening Day. Regardless of when he arrives, however, he's not a favorite to break camp in the big leagues.
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Mets' Felix Pena: Joins Mets on MiLB deal
Rotowire
Pena signed a minor-league contract with the Mets on Feb. 16.
Pena was let go by the Angels in September after spending most of the season at Triple-A Salt Lake, where he posted an 8.03 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 59:27 K:BB across 68.1 innings in a swingman/spot starter role. The 32-year-old will likely be in big-league camp for the Mets once spring training begins and should provide organizational depth.
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Felix Pena: Released by Angels
Rotowire
Pena was released by the Angels on Thursday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Pena was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake on May 11, and he's since gotten hit hard to the tune of an 8.03 ERA and 1.60 WHIP across 68.1 innings. After a promising 2020 campaign with the Angels -- he posted a 4.05 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with a 29:8 K:BB across 26.2 innings -- Pena will look to get his career back on track with a new club.
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Angels' Felix Pena: Outrighted off 40-man roster
Rotowire
Pena cleared waivers Tuesday and was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Previous reports indicated that Pena was optioned off the active roster Sunday, but he was evidently actually designated for assignment. He'll clear a space on the 40-man roster for the Angels to select Noe Ramirez's contract.
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Angels' Felix Pena: Bounced off active roster
Rotowire
The Angels optioned Pena to Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.
Los Angeles will swap Pena out of the bullpen with lefty Tony Watson (calf), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. After moving past a spring hamstring injury that kept him on the shelf for the first month of the season, Pena was roughed up in his two relief appearances upon being activated from the IL. In 1.2 innings out of the bullpen, Pena was tagged for seven earned runs on seven hits and four walks.
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Angels' Felix Pena: Struggles in season debut
Rotowire
Pena pitched two-thirds of an inning against Tampa Bay on Thursday, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out one.
Pena spent the first five weeks of the season on the injured list before he was added to the active roster prior to Thursday's game. His first appearance of the campaign did not go well, as the right-hander allowed a walk, a double and a pair of singles while also throwing a wild pitch. Pena should get further opportunities to shake the rust as part of an Angels bullpen that has mostly struggled this season.
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Angels' Felix Pena: Reinstated from injured list
Rotowire
Pena (hamstring) was reinstated from the injured list Thursday.
Manager Joe Maddon has stated that Pena was physically ready to return, but the team needed to open a roster spot for him. With Chris Rodriguez (shoulder) being placed on the injured list, Pena was activated in a corresponding move. He's expected to serve primarily out of the bullpen this season.
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Angels' Felix Pena: Still waiting for roster opening
Rotowire
Angels manager Joe Maddon stated again Wednesday that Pena (hamstring) is physically ready to return, but the team is still trying to figure out how to work him onto the active roster, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Based on previous reports, it appears that Pena has been ready to return for weeks, though he remains stashed on the 10-day injured list. His continued absence is a bit surprising, considering that the right-hander's 4.05 ERA last season is considerably better than the team's bottom-10 4.55 bullpen ERA thus far in 2021. The expectation is that Pena will join the big-league squad in the relatively near future.
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Angels' Felix Pena: Prepping for utility pitcher role
Rotowire
Pena (hamstring) is stretching out at the Angels' alternate training site and is expected to serve as a "utility-type arm" upon his return, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Pena remains on the 10-day injured list, though manager Joe Maddon previously indicated that the right-hander is physically ready to return. While he has made 24 starts as a big leaguer, Pena isn't being viewed as a rotation option and is instead stretching out in preparation for a flexible bullpen role. He posted a 4.05 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 26.2 innings -- all as a reliever -- last season.
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Angels' Felix Pena: Ready to return
Rotowire
Pena (hamstring) is physically ready to come off the injured list, but the Angels have yet to determine who he will replace on the active roster, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Pena went on the 10-day IL on March 31 and has been eligible to return since last weekend. Though he appears physically capable of rejoining the big-league bullpen, it remains to be seen how soon that will happen given the team's uncertainty about who to send down. While the Angels are off to an 8-5 start, their 4.18 bullpen ERA is ranked 15th in MLB.
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Angels' Felix Pena: Close to return
Rotowire
Pena is "very close to being ready again," per manager Joe Maddon, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Pena was placed on the injured list March 31 due to a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, but he appears to be doing well in his recovery and may make his return to the big club soon. It's unclear, however, where the right-hander would slot in the team's bullpen depth chart as the Angels brought in both Tony Watson and Steve Cishek near the end of spring training while rookie Chris Rodriguez has looked strong in relief.
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Angels' Felix Pena: Could toss bullpen soon
Rotowire
Pena (hamstring) has started running and may be able to throw a bullpen session early in the coming week, the Associated Press reports.
Pena was placed on the 10-day injured listed with a right hamstring strain March 31, though the injury dates back to March 15. The 31-year-old's ability to run suggests that the issue is improving, and he should need only a few bullpen sessions before he's able to rejoin the club. Pena is eligible to come off the IL on April 10.
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Angels' Felix Pena: Shifts to 10-day IL
Rotowire
Pena (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
The right-hander has been recovering from a Grade 1 right hamstring strain over the past couple weeks, so it's not a major surprise he's starting the season on the shelf. Pena could rejoin the Angels within the first couple weeks of the season if all goes well in his recovery.
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Angels' Felix Pena: Plays catch, still out 2-to-4 weeks
Rotowire
Pena (hamstring) played catch from 90 feet Friday but is still expected to be out past Opening Day, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Pena exited a game March 15 after suffering a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, further hindering an Angels bullpen that is already beset by injuries. Though he is back to playing catch, the right-hander isn't likely to be ready to return by the start of the campaign.
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Angels' Felix Pena: Getting MRI
Rotowire
Pena (hamstring) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Pena received an initial diagnosis of right hamstring tightness when he exited Monday's game against the Reds, but the Angels will send him for further tests to get a clearer idea on the severity of his injury. If Pena is determined to have suffered a hamstring strain, he could have a tough time gaining clearance for Opening Day.
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Angels' Felix Pena: Dealing with hamstring issue
Rotowire
Pena left Monday's game against Cincinnati with right hamstring irritation.
Pena's initial diagnosis isn't anything too worrisome, though it's possible that diagnosis gets updated following further tests. The righty looks set to win a bullpen role if healthy.
