Penny Signs for Pennies (Relatively Speaking)

We learned today that Brad Penny signed a 1-year deal with Boston, worth $5 million with another $3 million in obtainable incentives if Penny stays healthy and productive.

I had 2 initial reactions to this news.

1 - Too bad Milwaukee couldn't have landed Penny on a contract like that. 1 year and a maximum of $8 million for a productive Brad Penny is a nice deal for Boston. They're only out $5 million if he flops.

2 - What does this do to the market for oft-injured but talented starters? I can't imagine that this helps Ben Sheets. It also tells you a lot about the pitching market in general - teams just aren't spending a ton of money right now outside of New York.