Sheets watch (closed in deference to new thread)

[rluzinski]

My guess (and that's what we all are doing here) is that the Brewers were/are only interested in Sheets in a 1 year deal and Sheets wanted to persue a multiyear deal. So far, I think Sheets's agent has said that Sheets won't even consider a 1 year deal. Of course, the longer Sheets is on the market, the more likely he's willing to accept a 1 year deal. But will any team want to give up a 1st round pick for a 1 year deal? Sheets is kind of caught in limbo.

 

The scenario I see Sheets coming back to the Brewers is if he still didn't get an acceptable multiyear deal by early March. He might decide to use 2009 to showcase his talents with the Brewers on a 1 year deal with no club option. Melvin would bring him back with the same base salary as last year, with some kind of decent IP incentive. If Sheets gives the Brewers 150 IP @ 3.6 ERA, he would have earned his base salary anyway.

 

I think if he's patient and healthy in March, he'll get his multiyear deal somewhere else, though.

[silversurferr]

Jeez, Who cares if Sheets is disgruntled? If he signs, he will pitch to win; he's always been that type of player. I do not understand how anyone can question his heart. Give him a two year deal for a market rate (13-15 million a year). Objectively, any team that gives up a draft pick and more than two years guaranteed money (no team option) is really taking a risk. Most of the teams that would accept that risk are out of the running, except for the Mets, and they are not gonna give up the pick unless they get real desparate. Ie., if Atlanta signs Lowe, I think Sheets goes to the Mets . If the Mets sign Lowe, Sheets signs for two years with Milwaukee at 12 or 13 per. Of course, Atlanta could sign Lowe, and the Mets could sign Ollie Perez, with Sheets signing with the Brewers.

[PeaveyFury]

What puzzles me, is that I assume that both sides are looking at the same medical information.

 

Agreed, FTJ. It's quite puzzling.

 

So far, I think Sheets's agent has said that Sheets won't even consider a 1 year deal.

 

Which is really quite odd, for most of the reason's you mentioned, Russ. Ending the season with an injury and no teams willing to lose a draft pick make a one-year deal quite logical for Sheets. Get a decent pay day for 2009, and delay the big payoff for a year while proving you're healthy enough to get a big multi-year deal (and be worth that draft pick).

 

Unless, of course, Sheets' camp isn't confident that he can prove he's healthy enough, which is another story...

[Fatter than Joey]

Get a decent pay day for 2009, and delay the big payoff for a year while proving you're healthy enough to get a big multi-year deal (and be worth that draft pick).

 

For some teams, it would only be a #2 or even a #3. I would think Sheets is worth that...

[rluzinski]

I don't think it's puzzling that Sheets is holding out for a 2+ year deal. He may still get it if he's patient He'll get a 1 year deal, either way*

 

*speculation alert.

[PeaveyFury]

I don't think it's puzzling that Sheets is holding out for a 2+ year deal. He may still get it if he's patient He'll get a 1 year deal, either way*

 

But the longer he waits, the lower the contract seems to get.

[lbb020]

The lack of interest in Sheets baffles me, there really has been no substantial talk (that has surfaced at least) between Sheets and anyone. The Yankees were rumored for a bit.....but they are interested in everyone so that's not a surprise. Burnett is one year older and has certainly experienced more serious injuries in his past than Sheets, and he did not have a problem drawing interest ( I recall the Braves offering a large contract). At this point....I don't see any other teams signing him besides the Yankees or the Brewers. If this is the case, we all should be hopeful he lands with the us because I don't think anyone wants to be slapped in the face again by the Yankees (we would receive their 4th round pick+ compensation pick). A contract with a lot of incentives may be just what he needs.....

[strawbossisevil]

I wonder if a sign and trade could be worked out with Sheets. It is pretty clear the only team that would probably have interest in Sheets on a one or two year deal is probably the Yankees (or the Brewers). With the Yankees we only get their 4th round pick (and the compensation pick after round one).

 

What if, instead, the Brewers offered to sign him to a two year deal with the intention of trading him for an expendable player that fills a need for our team?

 

Perhaps a Sheets for Beltre deal (just one option out of many). In that way we´d help whatever team out there dodge the draft picks, while still getting a needed piece to the puzzle ourselves (be it prospect, or everyday player).

 

Since the issue seems to be losing the draft pick we could help a team out while getting production that could help our team immediately. If we were able to make a trade for Beltre, I imagine he´d be a type A FA in a year too, so there is that benefit as well.

 

Just trying to think outside the box a bit on this one.

[endaround]

You can't trade a signed FA until June 15th.

[Ennder]

Once someone signs some of the other FA pitchers I'm sure Sheets will get something done, this was a very pitching heavy free agent class.

[dpapo]

I've mentioned this before, but I think there is something teams are seeing in Sheets medical reports that is scaring them off. If it's just a history of injuries, then Burnett would have also had trouble finding a team to sign with. And it's not just that the Yankees that were interested in Burnett, there were rumors of multiple other teams interested in him as well. One of those teams, the Braves offered a contract that was similar to what the Yankees offered and are now currently making a serious run at Lowe, but have yet to show any serious interest in Sheets.
The Mets have a strong interest in Lowe, who is a type A free agent, but there haven't been any rumors/reports that they have had a serious interest in Sheets.
Heck, the Red Sox signed John Smoltz and Brad Penny, two pitchers coming off injured seasons, but haven't shown any interest in Sheets. And it's not like money or giving up a pick would be a major issue with the Red Sox.
Eventually, some team is going to sign Sheets, maybe whoever loses out on Lowe between the Mets and Braves. Maybe Texas or maybe Sheets does come back to the Brewers one 1 year deal.

[BrewCrewForever]

In my opinion the longer Sheets goes without being signed and the longer the Brewers go without signing a free agent pitcher the more likely Sheets is to return on a 1 year deal to Milwaukee. And I'm fine with that.

[Ennder]

Heck, the Red Sox signed John Smoltz and Brad Penny, two pitchers coming off injured seasons, but haven't shown any interest in Sheets. And it's not like money or giving up a pick would be a major issue with the Red Sox.

 

There is pretty much no way the Sox sign either of those guys if they are type A FA. That is what is holding Sheets back as much as anything else.

[rluzinski]

Heck, the Red Sox signed John Smoltz and Brad Penny, two pitchers coming off injured seasons, but haven't shown any interest in Sheets. And it's not like money or giving up a pick would be a major issue with the Red Sox.

 

Can we please stop pretending that some teams have infinite financial resources? Every team has financial constraints, even if they are drastically different from team to team. Think about the Cameron trade proposal if you disagree.

 

If the Red Sox or any team could get Sheets for 1/$5 mil, they'd sign him. They can't. And Lowe is easily the more desirable starting pitcher, so I'm not surprised that he's gotten a lot more attention.

[silversurferr]

Exactly. Sheets best fits with a contender, who would take a chance on one good year. Crappy teams like the Rangers would be looking three years or more down the line, and Sheets is a bigger risk over an extended contract. Next year's big money contenders have made their moves, except the Mets. The others do not want to give up the 1st rounder. Arb offer by Melvin was a great move.

[dpapo]

As far as Boston not having the resources to sign Sheets, we're not talking about a long term, expensive contract. At least, I wouldn't think that Sheets and his agents would still be looking for that type of contract. The Red Sox do have the resources to sign Sheets if they were truly interested. That's the whole point I'm making. Teams are not viewing Sheets as worth spending those type of resources and it's not due to a lack of talent and not just past injuries. If the Red Sox weren't worried about Sheets injuries, then they would view him as a pitcher worth at least a 2 year, $20-25 million deal. They didn't pass on Sheets because they didn't have the resources for that type of deal. They were planning on spending a whole lot more money than that on Teixeira, because they had the resources to do it and they felt he was worth it. As I have mentioned, other players with a history of injuries, recent and long term have signed, while Sheets is still out there, without drawing much interest at the moment.

Of course, the current market has something to do with it as well. However, we're talking about an ace type of pitcher and there isn't one team that we know of that has even made Sheets an offer.

So, I guess the answer is a combination of market, injuries and I would say something in his medical reports and maybe what Sheets agent is asking.

[MNBrew]

In my opinion the longer Sheets goes without being signed and the longer the Brewers go without signing a free agent pitcher the more likely Sheets is to return on a 1 year deal to Milwaukee. And I'm fine with that.

I'm fine with that, too. And I'll just bet Doug Melvin's had that thought many times over.

 

It was Melvin who made the contacts w/ Casey Close re: Sheets during that 15-day moratorium period after the World Series, and it was Melvin who said the Brewers indeed were interested in having him back but understood Sheets' interest in exploring the market.

[Invader3K]

The Red Sox already have like 8 possible starting pitchers. Sheets on their roster would be silly.

[Point Beer Is Best]

If the market eventually dries up for Sheets and he'll accept a one-year deal, I wouldn't be surprised if the Yankees chase after him considering it would be the least cost-prohibitive (in terms of draft picks) for them than any other team besides the Brewers. I would still like to see Ben back in Milwaukee next year.

[silversurferr]

Atlanta is making its move for Lowe. Bad news for Milwaukee's chances of signing Sheets?

[dpapo]

Haudricourt has an update on Melvin's feelings about Sheets.

"The one exception could be Ben Sheets, who might have made a mistake by turning down the Brewers' offer of arbitration, which would have guaranteed a salary of at least $12 million in 2009. There have been no reports of a team making the multi-year offer that Sheets figured he'd get on the market.

If the injury-prone right-hander comes back to the Brewers and proposes a reasonable deal to return, what would be their response?

"I don't know," said Melvin. "We'd have to look at that and see. It's a possibility (to work something out). He seems to be a real mystery on the market right now. You don't hear much about him."

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/37363469.html

[zzzmanwitz]

Its pretty amazing to think that Sheets was the NL All-Star Starter and is basically getting no bites on the FA market.

[wcswimmer712]

If we sign Sheets to a one year deal, our rotation would become quite servicable; potentially formidable

 

Sheets

Gallardo

Parra

Bush

Suppan/(Capuano if he returns from injury, to form)

[twobrewers]

We're hearing more and more that a team like the Braves or Rangers could pony up a couple of years on a contract that would land oft-injured righthander Ben Sheets. At this stage of free agency, he seems like big-time quality for a price that has surely come down. "I think as the weeks go on, more and more teams are going to take a good, hard look at him," said a National League manager. "Given his history, he's just not going to get a big deal, and the realization might be sinking in that he and his agents know it."

Boston Globe

[BrewCrewForever]

Man that is a little depressing twobrewers. I hope the Braves or Rangers don't do it. I wish Doug would just pony up a 2 year deal for Ben.