Penny says he's healthy after injury-plagued 2010

Brad Penny insists he's healthy again.

The Detroit Tigers are more than willing to give him a chance to prove it.

Penny agreed to a one-year deal with Detroit earlier this month, joining a starting rotation the Tigers hope will lead them to the AL Central title. Penny made only nine starts with St. Louis a season ago before being sidelined with a back injury, but the right-hander says he was preparing to return before the Cardinals fell short of the postseason.

''I was throwing at the end of the year in case we made the playoffs,'' he said on a conference call with reporters recently.

St. Louis didn't make the playoffs, and Penny left to join the Tigers, a team he expects will contend for a division championship. Penny won the World Series in 2003 as a member of the Florida Marlins, whose staff included Josh Beckett, Carl Pavano and Dontrelle Willis. Detroit's group this year could be similarly effective, with Penny joining Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello.

Detroit's rotation also includes Phil Coke, a left-hander being moved from the bullpen. The 32-year-old Penny is joining four other starters who will be between 22 and 28 on opening day, but Penny will be expected to contribute to a playoff chase and not simply mentor youngsters.

''He's definitely an established big leaguer,'' catcher Alex Avila said. ''He's got great stuff, and potentially our rotation, right now, could be one of the best in the American League. The main part is keeping the guys healthy and consistent.''

That's been a problem for Penny. He won 16 games in back-to-back seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006-07, but he's struggled to regain that form. Penny was bothered by shoulder problems in 2008, and he was ineffective in a brief stint in the American League with Boston in 2009, going 7-8 with a 5.61 ERA.

''I was behind in the count,'' Penny said. ''If you're behind in the count in the American League East, you're in trouble.''

The Red Sox ended up releasing him in the middle of the season, but he caught on with the Giants and pitched well for them down the stretch.

Penny joined the Cardinals last season, and with the help of pitching coach Dave Duncan, he went 3-4 with a 3.23 ERA before going on the disabled list in May.

The injury turned out to be more serious than initially thought, and Penny didn't pitch again.

''I've never had a lat injury or anything like that,'' Penny said. ''I was frustrated. I didn't know what was going on.''

Although the Tigers only made a one-year commitment to Penny, they're confident enough in his health that they've already traded starter Armando Galarraga.

Penny began his career with Florida in 2000, when Dave Dombrowski was an executive for the Marlins. Dombrowski is now Detroit's general manager.

Penny is also looking forward to being reunited with one of his former catchers. Detroit signed Victor Martinez in the offseason, and he's expected to be a designated hitter while also sharing catching duties with Avila.

Martinez and Penny overlapped briefly as teammates with the Red Sox.

''What a great teammate,'' Penny said. ''You guys are going to be really impressed with him as a person, not only as a player.''

Penny has pitched in the postseason twice before, but not since 2006 with the Dodgers. He's eager to return for another shot at a championship.

''I won one in '03,'' he said. ''That's what I want to get back to. That's something they can never take away.''