The Red Sox this evening made official the signing of righthanded pitcher Brad Penny to a one-year contract. Penny complies with the Red Sox post-Teixeira offseason strategy of low-risk, high-reward moves.

The deal was first reported Dec. 29, but Penny had to pass a physical before it became official. The Red Sox did not announce terms of the deal, but a source told the Globe's Amalie Benjamin last week that the agreement was for $5 million with performance bonuses that could add $3 million more, starting at 160 innings pitched.

Penny, 30, endured his worst season last year with the Dodgers owing to three separate trips to the disabled list, all because of a rightshoulder injury. He went 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA in 19 games (17 starts) while striking out 51 and walked 42 over a career-low 94.2 innings. Penny, though, offers the potential of a pitcher who made the All-Star Game in 2006 and 2007.

The Red Sox also made a few small moves. They outrighted righthanded knuckleballer Charlie Zink to Triple A Pawtucket, and righthanded pitchers Virgil Vasquez and Dewon Day were claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox' roster is now at 39 players.