Pennington was activated from the 7-day injured list and released from his contract Tuesday, Conor Foley of The Times-Tribune reports.
Pennington had been on the injured list with a hamstring injury, but he's been released by the Yankees organization following his activation, per Foley. The 35-year-old hit .196 over 92 at-bats for the RailRiders.
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Yankees' Cliff Pennington: Hits injured list
Rotowire
Pennington (undisclosed) has been placed on the 7-day injured list, Conor Foley of The Times-Tribune reports.
The specifics of the injury weren't disclosed, but Pennington apparently tweaked something while taking a swing on a home run and looked uncomfortable running the bases a few days ago. The 34-year-old was hitting just .196 in 92 at-bats for the RailRiders.
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Yankees' Cliff Pennington: Joins Yankees on minors deal
Rotowire
Pennington signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Friday.
The 34-year-old doesn't have much left in the tank, as he owns a .220/.290/.298 slash line over the last four seasons. With the Yankees in an early-season injury crisis, it's possible he gets a look in a bench role, but for now he'll head to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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Cliff Pennington: Let go by Athletics
Rotowire
Pennington was released by the Athletics on Saturday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The 34-year-old has received at least some big-league playing time in 11 straight seasons, but he hasn't recorded an above-average batting line since 2009 and has posted a wRC+ above 75 just once in the last seven seasons. He could still stick somewhere as organizational depth this season but is unlikely to make a significant impact.
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Rangers' Cliff Pennington: Signed to minor-league deal
Rotowire
Pennington signed a minor league contract with the Rangers on Friday.
Pennington was dreadful in 16 games for the Reds, as he hit just .138/.265/.138 with no extra-base hits in 29 at-bats. He hasn't posted an OPS above .700 since 2010, and his usefulness, should he make it to the majors with Texas, will mostly lie in his ability to play multiple infield positions.
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Cliff Pennington: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Pennington utilized his opt-out clause and elected free agency Friday.
Pennington played in 16 games for the Reds this season prior to being designated for assignment and sent down to Triple-A Louisville in late April. The veteran infielder will look to latch on with another organization in the coming weeks, though he will be hard-pressed to find a role where he can make a substantial impact at the major-league level.
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Reds' Cliff Pennington: Removed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
Pennington cleared waivers Saturday and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Louisville.
Pennington was already with Louisville, having been optioned there Thursday. Now off the 40-man roster, he's one step further away from returning to the big leagues, though his versatility leaves him multiple avenues back to the show. With a career .242/.309/.339 line in parts of 11 seasons, though, don't expect much from him if he does end up back with the big club.
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Reds' Cliff Pennington: Sent down to Triple-A
Rotowire
Pennington was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.
Pennington only recorded 34 plate appearances during his time with Cincinnati, as he struggled to a .138/.265/.138 slash line with zero extra-base hits and 13 strikeouts. The infielder wasn't able to secure more playing time when Eugenio Suarez went down with a thumb injury, and now the latter is returning from the disabled list to take Pennington's spot on the active roster. Additionally, the Reds recalled Rosell Herrera and sent Phillip Ervin down to Louisville.
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Reds' Cliff Pennington: Hits bench for third consecutive game
Rotowire
Pennington is not in the lineup Thursday against the Cardinals.
There were some thoughts that Pennington could take over the vacant third base job while Eugenio Suarez (thumb) is out, but it seems like the Reds want to test out their younger options first. Alex Blandino will start Thursday and could continue to see a good amount of time at the hot corner along with Phil Gosselin. Nick Senzel is also looming in the minors and could fill the void in the coming weeks.
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Reds' Cliff Pennington: On bench again Wednesday
Rotowire
Pennington is not starting Wednesday against the Philles.
In the three games since Eugenio Suarez went down with a fractured thumb, Pennington has started just once, with Alex Blandino and Phil Gosselin (who starts Wednesday) each getting one start. Highly rated prospect Nick Senzel could be up later this week to take over as the Reds' primary third baseman, which would leave Pennington with even fewer opportunities for playing time. The veteran is better suited for a utility role, which he'll likely resume again soon.
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Reds' Cliff Pennington: Rides pine Tuesday
Rotowire
Pennington is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Phillies.
Pennington may see semi-regular playing time at the hot corner with Eugenio Suarez (thumb) out, at least until the team calls up Nick Senzel. However, the veteran will get the night off Tuesday, allowing prospect Alex Blandino to make his major-league debut in his place.
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Reds' Cliff Pennington: In line for regular 3B duties
Rotowire
Pennington is batting seventh and starting at third base Monday against the Phillies.
With Eugenio Suarez (thumb) landing on the disabled list, Pennington figures to get a good amount of playing time at the hot corner for the next few weeks. Prospect Alex Blandino could also factor into the playing time division, but the veteran infielder's decent start to the season (2-for-6, three walks) should allow him to grab a good number of starts at the onset of Suarez's absence.
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Reds' Cliff Pennington: Two walks in spot start
Rotowire
Pennington went 0-for-2 with two walks in Monday's win over the Cubs, getting a spot start in place of Jose Peraza.
It was interesting to see Pennington get slotted second on Monday as well. Peraza is off to an 0-for-12 start, which could bode for more starts for Pennington if he can continue to get on base.
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Reds' Cliff Pennington: Makes Opening Day roster
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Pennington will be on the Reds' Opening Day roster, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Pennington will serve as the club's backup shortstop to Jose Peraza. Over 87 games with the Angels last season, Pennington slashed .253/.306/.330 with three home runs and 21 RBI. Expect similar numbers out of him this year.
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Reds' Cliff Pennington: Agrees to terms with Reds
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Pennington signed a split contract with Cincinnati on Thursday, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports.
Pennington will earn $1.5 million if he makes the major-league roster. The 33-year-old played in 87 games with the Angels in 2017, slashing .253/.306/.330 with three home runs and 21 RBI. If he winds up carving out a spot on the big-league team, expect Pennington to serve in a reserve role as a bench infielder, although his value will be capped due to limited abilities at the dish.
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Angels' Cliff Pennington: Homers in start Tuesday
Rotowire
Pennington got the nod at the keystone against a left-handed pitcher Tuesday, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a loss to Washington.
The veteran infielder has started six of the Angels' last 12 contests, but all six have come against southpaws. A strict platoon has developed at second base between Pennington and Kaleb Cowart, but the latter plays more and thus is the more desirable fantasy asset.
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Angels' Cliff Pennington: Getting starts against lefties
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Pennington started at the keystone and went 2-for-4 in Sunday's victory over the Mariners.
Kaleb Cowart has emerged as the Angels' primary option at second base, but Pennington has picked up starts in two of the club's last three games, which have both come against southpaws. While both players are switch hitters, the former has struggled against lefties since being called up (4-for-20) while the latter has experiences success against that handedness this season (10-for-34), so a platoon situation at the keystone appears to be developing in Los Angeles.
Pennington is out of the lineup Sunday against the Red Sox.
Pennington had logged the previous three starts at second base, but that was only because the opposition rolled out left-handed starters in each of those contests. With righty Rick Porcello on the mound for Boston in the series finale, Pennington will give way to Nick Franklin, who is expected to see the bulk of the starts at the keystone on the strong side of a platoon.
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Angels' Cliff Pennington: Likely platoon candidate at second
Rotowire
Pennington is expected to enter a platoon at second base with Nick Franklin following Danny Espinosa's designation for assignment Sunday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
The Angels have received limited production from the keystone this season, so they were forced to cut ties with one of the three options they had been deploying there. Pennington was already seeing a couple starts per week, so being on the short side of a platoon doesn't move his fantasy value much. That said, with one less dog in the race, the veteran infielder could carve out a bigger role if he can outproduce Franklin, who's experiencing struggles of his own at the dish.
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Angels' Cliff Pennington: Ropes pair of hits Monday
Rotowire
Pennington went 2-for-4 in Monday's 6-3 loss to the Braves.
The utility man notched his first multi-hit effort since May 12 in Monday's loss, snapping an 0-for-8 slump. Pennington has bounced back after a difficult April in which he hit just .179, as he's now slashing .279/.354/.279 over 48 plate appearances in May.
