Brad Penny's deal with the Softbank Hawks of Japan's Pacific League is the largest ever given to an American pitcher in his first contract with a Japanese team.
According to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal, Penny will earn $4 million in 2012 with an additional $3.5 million available through performance-based incentives. The deal also includes a $4.5 million mutual option for 2013, which will become a player option if Penny throws 150 innings or wins 12 games, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. With that kind of market available to him overseas, Penny might never return to the major leagues.











