Buzz: Sheets Eyeing Comeback in 2010

October 23, 2009 at 18:25 pm · 20 comments

by Michael Baron

Adam McCalvy, in a report for MLB.com, says that former Brewers starter Ben Sheets intends to pitch in 2010 after missing all of 2009 due to a torn flexor tendon in his throwing arm.

Sheets is currently throwing off of flat ground and is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

…i’ve had a lot of people ask me if the Mets might be interested in Sheets…he reminds me of the type of pitcher Jeff D’Amico was, as he was a high risk, high reward arm…but the Mets got burned…

i have to wonder if the Mets would be willing to take a risk on someone who has been sidelined by numerous injuries over the course of his career, given what they went through the past couple of seasons…

…when healthy, he has been solid, but has made more than 24 starts just once since 2004…if the Mets were to bring him in, i can’t see him being depended on to fill the top-of-the rotation void…but if he is healthy, he could combine with Johan Santana and whoever they decide to bring in to be a fantastic threesome…

Before being left off of the Brewers’ postseason roster, Sheets posted a 13-9 record with a 3.09 ERA in 31 starts in 2008.

Bowman expects that the Brewers, Rangers, and Red Sox will all express interest in Sheets this winter.

{ 20 comments }

DominicanBoy08 October 23, 2009 at 6:39 pm

the mets should only sign sheets if they first sign a durable #2 starter.

could you imaging?

santana
lackey
sheets

JefJarrett October 23, 2009 at 6:46 pm

I would go a step further and say they need Lackey and either Wolf or Marquis then they can go after Sheets.

mark4212 October 23, 2009 at 6:54 pm

Probably not… If you sign Lackey and sheet you have 5 starting pitchers. Johan, Lackey, Sheets, Perez, Pelfrey. You would have Neise in the Minors refining his game.

If you sign 2 pitchers and then sheets what do you do with perez or pelfrey? Not to mention being possibly the only team who would want john maine.

JefJarrett October 23, 2009 at 7:34 pm

Sheets is far from a sure thing (health wise). I don’t trust Ollie as far as I can throw him, and who knows what you’re going to get outta Pelf or Maine (Maine being the bigger ?)

Johan, Lackey, Marquis/Wolf, Sheets, Pelf/Ollie/Maine

Figure Sheets is getting hurt during the season…….and Lackey isn’t exactly Mr. Healthy. Can never have too many pitchers……and to be able to get Lackey and Marquis/Wolf who are far more consistent pitchers than any of our starters not named Santana would be a huge upgrade going into next season.

racemccloud October 23, 2009 at 6:55 pm

I’ll take Sheets… if he agrees to get paid start-to-start.

PedroMANIA October 23, 2009 at 6:58 pm

Are you kidding? Jeff D’Amico is a horrible comparison. Yes I know he played for the Brewers. D’Amico never had the career Sheets has had or the stuff.

Not even close.

racemccloud October 23, 2009 at 7:29 pm

I forgot D’Amico even existed…

JohantheMan October 23, 2009 at 7:18 pm

Why not take a chance, throw some money at him and see if he comes here. It can’t hurt, sign Lackey also, at that point i probably wouldn’t sign Marquis/Wolf because you have Pelfrey. Pelfrey will be better this year. If you do sign Sheets, Lackey, Wofl (?) then you need to move one of Ollie/Maine/Pelf, what do you do with the odd-man out?

JefJarrett October 23, 2009 at 7:36 pm

I don’t think there is an odd man out…….at the start of the season there is….but tough for them…….someone will get hurt…..if at the trading deadline everyone is still healthy…..then great, trade from an area of strength……but something tells me if we have a rotation of

Johan, Lackey, Marquis/Wolf, Sheets, Pelf/Ollie/Maine/

every one of those pitchers will start at least 15 games due to various injuries and ailments.

JohantheMan October 23, 2009 at 7:45 pm

ya know you make a good point, we should stock up on as much good pitching as we can, i just don’t know what we do with the other guys, do they stay up here and work out of the bullpen? Do you send them to AAA?

Xavier22 October 24, 2009 at 11:25 am

The question is, would veteran pitchers like Wolf, Marquis, etc be willing to go down to AAA and wait until they’re needed?

If the Mets get Lackey (or trade for Halladay), their starting rotation would be: Santana, Lackey, Ollie, Pelf, Maine (people always seem to be forgetting about Maine – Remember the Maine!). If they picked up Wolf and Marquis as well, who goes down to AAA? Ollie for $12M? Pelf? Maine? If all those guys are healthy and performing well, I’m sure they wouldn’t take too kindly to being sent down. All of them are more talented than AAAA guys like Figgy or Nieve. Sooner or later they’re going to say play me or trade me. If you throw Sheets in there, it only will make matters worse.

They may be able to offer Sheets an incentive laden deal like they did for Freddy Garcia. But as for Wolf and Marquis, unless they trade away some existing pitchers, I just don’t see that working out.

racemccloud October 23, 2009 at 7:30 pm

Actually, I take it back… forget paying Sheets start-to-start. Can we pay him pitch-to-pitch?

davidus1 October 23, 2009 at 9:57 pm

what’s funny about all of this is it likely the Rangers who will end up with both guys (Lackey and Sheets).

Sheets has been training and rehabing with the Rangers from day one. I just don’t see him signing anywhere else.

But don’t get me wrong. If I could sign a Ben Sheets to a Brad Penny or Smoltz type of deal, I’m all over it.

wnymetsfan October 23, 2009 at 10:51 pm

The Rangers are also rumored to be close to broke so how would they pay for these guys?

Xavier22 October 24, 2009 at 11:27 am

Julio Lugo was training at the Mets facilities and ended up going to the Cards. I think guys train at any professional organization that’s close to home.

JohantheMan October 23, 2009 at 10:41 pm

People go where the money is, pay them and you’ll get them

racemccloud October 24, 2009 at 12:02 am

Truer words were never spoken.

Show me the money.

reillys5 October 24, 2009 at 1:41 am

this is off topic .. but i had a dream last night it was the 2010 season and reyes was trying to beat out an infield hit .. when he stepped on the bag he tripped and rolled a few feet .. everyone thought he was hurt.. but he got up and raced at full speed to second base … probably would be a top 3 moment in the 2009 season

mextache October 24, 2009 at 5:53 am

Not that I would want this to happen…but I can easily see the Braves making a run at Sheets.

Xavier22 October 24, 2009 at 11:30 am

Actually, Sheets is one of those reclamation projects the Mets tend to like – especially if they can broker one of those incentive laden deals. Then it’s low risk/high reward (music to the Wilpon’s ears).

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