Joe Kennedy ... dead at 28!

[Padres]

Major league pitcher Joe Kennedy died early Friday morning while at home with his family in Florida, agent Damon Lapa confirmed to ESPN.com. The cause of Kennedy's death could not immediately be determined, Lapa said.

Kennedy, 28, compiled a 43-61 record in seven major league seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays. A left-hander, Kennedy broke into the majors in 2001 with the Devil Rays. In three full seasons with Tampa Bay he made 72 starts, compiling an 18-31 record. Since 2004, Kennedy had two stints each with Colorado and Oakland. He started the 2007 season with Oakland, was claimed off waivers in August by Arizona, then designated for assignment before being signed by the Blue Jays on Aug. 29.

Kennedy had a career 4.79 ERA, pitching 908 2/3 innings over 222 career appearances. He made his last appearance in relief on Sept. 29 in a 5-3 win over Tampa Bay.

Kennedy was married with a one-year old son.

(ESPN)

Update: Rosenthal is reporting a brain aneurysm ...

[Padres]

Dieing at such a young age really sucks - especially for Kennedy's wife, Jami, and their son, Steffen Kaige, who just turned 1 on November 17. The timing, around the holidays - and between contracts - makes it even worse. On top of that he was in Florida because ...

"We were terribly shocked," Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey said. "From what we understand he was in Bradenton ... to be the best man at a wedding today."

[Mets]

I've always liked Joe Kennedy...I have him in two other leagues, for not reason other than I liked him.

Back when he came up with Tampa, I thought he had a chance to be an Al Leiter type, but it quickly became clear that he didn't have that kind of talent. Still sucks though.