Sheets watch (closed in deference to new thread)

[Invader3K]

I guess I'm just really not buying this idea that Sheets is mad at the Brewers because they pitched him every five days, being that he was the ace of the team until CC came along. Everything I've heard about Sheets was that he's a "gamer" who wants to pitch. If he was really that troubled by it, you would think he would have said "No, I can't pitch today," or whatever.

[ILuvDaBush]

Also, wouldn't the fact that Milwaukee got behind him full force to get him to start the AS Game (which I know was quite the HURDLE, but we overcame) factor in?

[rluzinski]

While completely possible, you'd think that as it becomes increasingly clear that no other team is willing to offer a multiyear deal either, that we'd hear more about the Brewers and Sheets reuniting.

 

At this point, I don't think Sheets or his agent are willing to publicity entertain a 1 year deal. That may change in 4 weeks but right now, they aren't going to show their hand, I think. Of course, I don't think Melvin is either.

[BrewCrewForever]

I have to say IF Ben Sheets is pitching for the Brewers in 2009 I would be completely shocked. But also very happy. I just think the ship has sailed unless Ben gets super desperate.

[PeaveyFury]

I just think the ship has sailed unless Ben gets super desperate.

 

It's almost February, spring training starts in two weeks, and the best offer that any team has been rumored to be willing to give for Sheets is 1 year and 4 million. I think 'super desperate' is on the near horizon....

[BrewCrewForever]

I hope your right Peavey and that Ben comes back to Doug.

[rluzinski]

Sheets is not the only notable player not signed yet. People are acting like the regular season starts in a week. It's late but not "desperation time" late, IMO.

[Hate those Rodents]

True - Of the twenty or so "bigger names" on the free agent market this winter, I'd argue that more than half are still on the free agent market today.

[Ennder]

Before we say Sheets is desperate I think it is only fair to look at the other free agents out there. If you had a lot of cash you could buy this team off the top of my head.

 

C - IRod/Varitek

1B - Dunn

2B - Hudson

SS - Cabrera

3B - Crede/Wigginton

LF - Manny

CF - Edmunds/Griffey

RF - Abreu

 

SP - Sheets, Perez, Garland, Wolf, Looper, Glavine

RP - Gagne, Isringhausen, Springer, Cordero, Cruz

 

 

That is a 2nd place team in the central most likely with a shot at 1st.

[nate82]

Notables still not signed yet include:

Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Griffey, and Manny Ramirez. There are others that I am forgetting but that is still a lot of good players available. You could probably put together a team of all stars for about $105-110 million team with the free agents availble. With the free agents available you could have a 90 win team by just signing who is available in free agency so yeah there are a lot of notables in pitchers and hitters available I doubt any of them are hitting the panic button right now. The only ones hitting the broken panic button right now are the fans.

[logan82]

Giambi signed with the A's a while back. Around January 6th I believe.

[TooLiveBrew]

I still hold out hope we can keep him.

 

I apologize in advance if this has been posted. I just got sent a copy from an article in the Appleton Post-Crescent on Jan. 21st on the 44th annual Red Smith Sports Award Banquet. Melvin was there to receive the 'Nice Guy Award'. Writer Brett Christopherson posed the following question to Doug in an interview:

 

 

Q: Is there any chance Ben Sheets will return to the Brewers?

 

A: It's still open. I'm just not that confident it will happen. I've talked to Ben at length. I've talked to his agent. I just don't see it happening.

 

 

I tried to find a link to the article in the Post-Crescent online archives, but no luck. If anyone feels I'm just making this up, I'm sure there's at least one other BF.net member that saw the article.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

I just can't see what Ben Sheets is thinking. Why pitch in a hitters park for a super young team that won't contend when you could pitch for a contender in a familiar atmosphere? The obvious answer is money, but for a guy like Sheets who has made almost 50 million dollars already, you'd think he could give a little of that up. Plus, he'd be set up to get a huge contract next year in free agency if he signed a 1 year deal because the economy can't get any worse than it is right now.

 

All that said, it doesn't matter. The decision seems to have already been made that Sheets won't be a Brewer next year and add that to a career that could have been in Milwaukee for Ben Sheets.

[nate82]

Giambi signed with the A's a while back. Around January 6th I believe.

I didn't even notice that. I wasn't really paying attention to Giambi at all.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Billy Beane's man crush on Jason Giambi has obviously not worn off.

[logan82]

nate82 wrote:

I didn't even notice that. I wasn't really paying attention to Giambi at all.

There really wasn't/isn't any reason to for Brewers fans. We already have a 1B. The only reason i remember is that I thought it was funny he was going back to his original team.

[PeaveyFury]

The Dallas News with an update: Sheets wants a three year deal, and the Rangers have no intention of giving one to him.

 

http://rangersblog.dallas.../ben-sheets-update-1.html

[Roderick]

TooLiveBrew wrote:

I tried to find a link to the article in the Post-Crescent online archives, but no luck. If anyone feels I'm just making this up, I'm sure there's at least one other BF.net member that saw the article.

http://www.postcrescent.c.../article?AID=200990126038

[RU Rah Rah]

Sheets wants a three year deal, and the Rangers have no intention of giving one to him.

http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/01/ben-sheets-update-1.html

I don't think he's going to get it -- there or anywhere -- but stranger things have happened, I suppose. Does the fact that he's even asking for this kind of deal suggest that he knows that his arm is ok?

[Patrick425]

Sheets wants a three year deal, and the Rangers have no intention of giving one to him.

http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/01/ben-sheets-update-1.html

I don't think he's going to get it -- there or anywhere -- but stranger things have happened, I suppose. Does the fact that he's even asking for this kind of deal suggest that he knows that his arm is ok?

 

I was thinking just the opposite. He has concerns about his arm and wants the security of a 3 year contract in case he suffers more injuries.

[Invader3K]

Yeah, it basically sounds like he's still hoping some team is gullible enough to give him a multi year deal, so that when he possibly has another significant injury and could be forced to eventually retire, he can at least have gotten one more good payday.

[fondybrewfan]

IMO Ben is a little loopy if he thinks he is going to get and that he actually wants a 3 year deal for a couple reason.

 

A. No team is going to give him 3 years at his price considering he had a somewhat serious arm injury at the end of last year, not to mention the multitude of other nagging type of injuries he usually gets

 

B. This offseason is obviously a down market, why on earth would Ben want to lock himself into a 3 year contract far below what he is actually worth? Why would he not do a 1 year deal with a player option for year #2? It just doesn't make any sense IMO. That is unless he is still asking for a 3 year deal in excess of $40M or something like that.

 

C. If The Rangers are the only seriously interested team, they are not going to bid against themselves, they probably know that their has been little interest from other teams so there is no reason to give Ben what he wants. It seems Ben has very little if any leverage.

 

I would still love to have him back. Offer the 1st year at $10M and then give him a $12M player option for year #2. If he has a good year next year he can cash in this offseason. You could even put in some escalators if the Brewers make the playoffs, if he makes 30 starts, and if he pitches 180-200 innings.

[Ennder]

I'd be pretty shocked if Sheets gets a 3 year deal unless it is incentive laden and has a way to opt out of the 3rd year.

[Patrick425]

I would still love to have him back. Offer the 1st year at $10M and then give him a $12M player option for year #2. If he has a good year next year he can cash in this offseason. You could even put in some escalators if the Brewers make the playoffs, if he makes 30 starts, and if he pitches 180-200 innings.

Do they ever do a player option as an incentive? For example, if Ben gets 200IP in 2009, then the player option kicks in for 2010. Or maybe an escalating player option. $8mil if he gets 125IP, $10mil if he gets 150IP...etc. Possibly becomes a mutual option if he finishes 2009 on the DL or requires surgery in the off season?

[RyDogg66]

Ben has never had a problem pitching well, when healthy. I 3 year deal is not out of the question but the base is likely to be very low, 5 million a year or so, with innings pitched incentives to bring it over 10 per season. The problem with that is, you might have a guy who is really hurting and not telling anyone to, then going out and sucking just because he wants to get to his IP incentive.