From MLB.com, via MLBTR:
The answer is that free agent right-hander Ben Sheets may need surgery to repair the torn flexor tendon in his elbow, and his former employers may be asked to pick up the tab….The Rangers could still pursue Sheets with a deal that would allow him to do his rehabilitation work with them in hopes that he would eventually pitch at a high level again. But that doesn’t appear to be the case.
“We’ve maintained contact but I’m not optimistic at this point,” general manager Jon Daniels said Thursday morning.
This where the Yankees need to flex their financial muscles. The article is unclear as to how long Sheets will need to recover. Regardless, the Yankees have an opening now, with the Rangers and Brewers slowly backing away due to their inability to shoulder the financial risk a contract for Sheets would entail. The Yankees have no such problems, and should offer Ben a Jon Lieber type deal. Two years, maybe 2-3 million this year with a club option at 7-9 million next season. This gives the Yankees the opportunity to have Sheets give them some depth later in the year this season, plus an option to slot him into next year’s rotation if he recovers nicely from surgery. I see no other team that would be willing to offer Ben that kind of offer at this point, and I hope Brian Cashman takes a shot here.
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9 Responses to Sign Sheets Now!!
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TIQ IQ
Big no thanks for me.
Really? What exactly is the downside? It isn’t like I’m advocating he be given a spot without proving himself.
Considering his latest elbow injury, the guy simply is not worth that kind of money and even the Yankees have a budget to consider.
EDIT: Sheets’ injury history at this point has become absurd -
Aug 14, 2001 – Sept 21, 2001: rotator cuff tendinitis
April 25, 2005 – May 27, 2005: viral & ear infection
Aug 27, 2005: torn lat muscle (out remainder of season)
Mar 30, 2006 – April 16, 2006: right shoulder strain
May 10, 2006 – July 24, 2006: right shoulder tendinitis
July 17, 2007 – Aug 29, 2007: sprained middle finger on throwing hand
Feb 5, 2008 – Torn Flexor Tendon in elbow
Lots of shoulder maledies + one torn flexor = no thank you
Fair enough. But think of the payoff if he does work out.
I would want a incentive based contract. Sheets seems to have many injury issues and can’t be trusted to go throughout the whole season without succumbing to one. It is an interesting idea for the contract suggested, but we need to make sure that there are no other lingering injuries.
That is fair. So maybe 1M this season with incentives that bring it up to 4M, and 4M next year, with incentives bringing it to 10M.
Sheets is a heck of a lot more likely to be successful in the AL East than Brad Penny or Smoltz. If he can be had for 2 yrs $12M however the break down occurs I’d give it to him even if you knew he’d be out until September of this year. A fresh Sheets in the Pen for October than battling for a spot next spring is $$.
Wow, you’re dominating this blog thus far with something like a 5:1 ratio, Moish. . .
Eh, we all post when we have the time, and I have time this week.