Free agent left-hander Joe Kennedy, who last played for the Blue Jays, died early Friday while at home in Florida. He was 28.
Kennedy passed out at home and was brought to a hospital, Hillsborough County (Fla.) sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said. She had no further details.
"This is tragic and stunning news," Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said in a statement. "It is difficult to express the emotions felt by the Blue Jays players and our organization. My sincere sympathies go to his wife, their son and the entire family."
Kennedy was 43-61 with a 4.79 ERA in seven seasons with Tampa Bay, Colorado, Oakland, Arizona and Toronto.
News of the pitcher's death emerged Friday when Kennedy's agent, Damon Lapa, told ESPN.com that Kennedy died while at home. The Denver Post reported that, according to Lapa, Kennedy was visiting his wife's family in the Tampa area. He got up in the middle of the night and collapsed.
"The cause of death is unknown at this time," Lapa told FOXSports.com. "The best guess at this point is either a heart attack or a brain aneurysm. The way he died was sudden. There is no reasonable explanation for what happened."
Kennedy, an eighth-round pick of the Rays in 1998 out of Grossmont (Calif.) College who made his Major League debut in 2001, pitched for the A's, Diamondbacks and Blue Jays last season, signing with the Blue Jays on Aug. 29 after being designated for assignment by Arizona.
Godfrey told The Associated Press that the club had "every intention" to speak to Kennedy about returning to the Blue Jays next season.
"We were terribly shocked," Godfrey told the AP. "From what we understand he was in Bradenton ... to be the best man at a wedding today."
Kennedy began the 2007 season in Oakland as a starter but was moved to the bullpen after going 3-9 with a 4.37 ERA. He appeared in 27 games, including 16 starts, before being placed on waivers. He had been in Oakland since a trade from Colorado in July 2005.
"The entire Oakland's A's organization sends our thoughts out to Joe's family," Oakland assistant GM David Forst said to ESPN.com. "He was a valued member of our organization for almost two years, and certainly a guy we loved having around."
The Diamondbacks claimed Kennedy on Aug. 4, but he appeared in just three games for Arizona, allowing seven runs in 2 2/3 innings, before being designated for assignment on Aug. 15. The Blue Jays signed Kennedy on Aug. 29, and he got his first win as a Blue Jay on Sept. 21 against the New York Yankees.
Kennedy is the third active Major League player to die since October 2006. Cory Lidle, who pitched for seven teams from 1997-2006, died at age 34 when his small aircraft crashed into a Manhattan building on Oct. 11, 2006. Cardinals right-hander Josh Hancock, who previously pitched for the Red Sox, Phillies and Reds, died at age 29 in an auto accident on April 29, 2007.
"Obviously, when a 28-year-old man dies, ballplayer or not, it's a terrible, terrible thing," Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Godfrey said.
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