Looks like there are three teams out there vying for Brad Penny’s services to end the season. All three teams are trying to make a push for the postseason – but one of them is pretty much locked in there. The New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants are elbowing with the Marlins for Penny.

The question is, what is Penny looking for?

If it is an assured appearance in the postseason, he definitely could get that with the Yankees, the team he helped defeat for the title back in 2003. Brad Penny is trying to get some exposure and getting into the postseason would help teams notice him. Also, the Red Sox released him and what better story line for him would there be than to pitch for his ex team’s rival?

Which also brings us to the Giants. Penny was a Dodger, but amid some rumblings about his work ethic and a supposed selfish approach to the game, Penny was out in LA and questions abound what direction his career would take. Which is why the Red Sox took a flyer on him. But playing for the Giants might be a way to get back at the Dodgers, not to mention that is a rivalry as well – just not one of note to the rest of the nation.

Finally, there is the familiar – home. The Marlins were Penny’s original team in the bigs. They helped shape him and got him his shot and he helped them win a title. He knows the ballpark. He knows the weather. He also knows that he would get a starting spot in the rotation right away as the Marlins are kind of struggling with their pitching at the moment. Perhaps the Fish have the least likely possibility of appearing in the postseason at this point, but with Penny’s help that could change quickly. And what better way to rejuvenate your career and get that big paycheck than to help a team get to the postseason. It worked for Pudge Rodriguez here back in 2003.

A decision will have to be made soon as Penny would have to be added to a roster before September 1st to be eligible for the postseason. Even more tantalizing is the cost – Penny would only cost a team roughly 89K for the rest of the year. That fits any team’s budget – especially the Marlins.