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.

Marchand says he spoke to Sheets’s agent, Casey Close, who a) would not indicate how Sheets is doing in his rehab, nor b) would he say where his client might sign as a free agent.

According to Marchand, “When he had his elbow surgery in February he was supposed to be out four-to-six months, which would mean he possibly could be ready next month.”

Last month, Jerry Crasnick wrote, for ESPN.com, that Sheets will be looking to sign with a team where he is guaranteed make 10 to 12 starts, which he can use as a springboard in to the off-season, free-agent market.

Marchand also blogs about Chien Ming Wang, and what the Yankees plan to do with top prospect Austin Jackson.

In a report for Newsday, Ken Davidoff looks at the Mets needs and writes, “So must the Mets.”

According to Davidoff, Peavy is not likely to accept a deal to the Mets or Phillies, which is why believes the Mets must go after rehabilitating free agent Ben Sheets, “and also discuss Erik Bedard with the Mariners – who, like the A’s, could be more open to younger prospects.”

…the thing is, while i believe the Mets need another dominant starting pitcher more than anything else, they also need a full-time, experienced, multi-purpose, back-up infielder, and a power bat, and they probably only have enough prospects to get one, maybe two, of the three… and, at what point should Omar Minaya trade young talent for the sake of patching short-term holes, while not waiting so long he ruins the major-league season for the sake of the farm system… tough balancing act…

According to Crasnick, Martinez is still waiting for the perfect opportunity to return to action, while Sheets still remains several weeks away from beginning a throwing program, in follow up to off-season elbow surgery.

Crasnick points out that a team singing Sheets must still surrender compensatory draft picks; however, compensation is not required if he is signed after the June draft.

Sheets will be looking to sign with a team on which he can make 10 to 12 starts, explains Crasnick, which he can use as a springboard in to the off-season, free-agent market.

Crasnick also provides an update on free agents Frank Thomas, Luis Gonzalez, Jim Edmonds, Mark Grudzielanek, Dave Roberts, Paul Byrd and Jay Payton.

…i know most fans will look to the trade market, but, it’s way, way too early to assume a team will dump a player in trade… for instance, from what i can tell, people in baseball are split on whether the Blue Jays will deal Roy Halladay, especially since they are in first place… that said, his name, along with Jake Peavy, Roy Oswalt, and a collection of other pitchers, will certainly be talked about…

In fact, Danny Knobler of CBS Sports believes the Indians could look to trade RHP Cliff Lee, should they fall out of the race.

…in short, there will be teams who look to dump salary, because, if tickets sales are down, given the economy, cutting payroll will be the best way to save cash… plus, there were a lot of one-year deals signed this past off-season, meaning a lot more players will be eligible for free agency…

The Rangers and Sheets reached an agreement on a two-year contract late last week, MLB.com explains, “and only a physical stood in the way of the deal being completed.  But everything changed once it was determined that Sheets had a torn flexor tendon that might require surgery.”

Rangers GM Jon Daniels is “not optimistic” that they will continue to pursue Sheets.

…wow, so this clears up the mystery as to why sheets was seemingly still available…this news makes the ollie signing seem that much better to me…

…i keep asking, but i have been unable to determine what this guy’s price actually is… i no longer have any idea what he’s looking for… for a while, i understood he was requesting a two-year deal… but, at this point, two weeks before pitchers and catchers, i just don’t see how he gets it, especially if the Rangers are backing out…

…from what i understand, the Mets only considered offering a one-year deal for sheets, as did the Rangers, as do the Brewers, and probably any other team with interest… i once thought it would cost a deal similar to what Brad Penny got from boston, i.e., one year, $5 million and a ton of incentives to push its potential value to well over $10 million… but, again, at this point, with the Mets likely out, with the Rangers out, and with the Brewers on the fence, how does he even get that…

…i would love for the Mets to do it… if i were them, i’d work real hard to find the money, and even guarantee two years… because, as i wrote last week, even if sheets can make only 20 starts, missing two months to injury, that is still money well spent when you consider how he’ll likely pitch in those 20 starts… i mean, for at least three months or so, the Mets could have two aces… if he gets hurt, he gets hurt… that’s what the incentives are for…

…unfortunately, right now, i don’t think sheets is an option for the Mets any more, who, instead are focused on maybe acquiring a left-handed reliever and another low-cost bat or two to compete in spring training…

…i’m sorry, i know they have said, ‘We’re done.’… the thing is, if the Mets are gonna spend $5 million on a reliever and a bat or two, let’s say, i would rather see them spend it on sheets, assuming he can be had for that price…

Speaking of starting pitchers…

Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports the Dodgers are once again negotiating with free-agent LHP Randy Wolf.

According to Rosenthal, “The Rangers want Sheets only on their terms,” the source said.

…as i wrote over the weekend, the buzz from baseball suggests sheets will not get a two-year offer from any team, because of concerns about his back and elbow, as well as his shoulder – and the fact that he pitched so many innings last season may actually be hurting his case…

…if i thought i could sign sheets to a two-year deal, worth $8 million per season with all sorts of incentives, i would do it…

…look, if he made just 20 starts, and missed two months or so due to injury, with the way he pitches, those 20 starts would probably be worth the $8 million, especially when compared to the so-so starts people get from guys making more than that…

…between Freddy Garcia, Jon Niese and Tim Redding, the Mets can make up the those missing starts from sheets, but while healthy they would have a very strong rotation…

…early last week i mentioned there had been a bit of buzz suggesting the Mets had given perez a weekend deadline… i was skeptical of this, because it’s not typically Omar Minaya’s style… either way, i am sure the Mets want an answer soon, because this is getting a little ridiculous now…

DeMayo believes the Mets prefer Randy Wolf to Ben Sheets, “by a small margin,” because of concerns about his medical records.

…for what it’s worth, the buzz from baseball suggests sheets will not get a two-year offer from any team, for exactly the reason demayo suggests, because of concerns about sheets back and elbow as much as his shoulder – and the fact that he pitched so many innings last season may actually be hurting his case…

The source tells DeMayo a deal with Perez will get done, because, “The Mets love Perez, and Perez loves the Mets. I doubt he would be happy anywhere else.”

DeMayo also provides information on whether the Mets will pursue another bat and a relief pitcher.

Speaking of pitchers…

Pedro Martinez told the Associated Press that he has received various formal offers from a number of clubs.

The Tigers could end up trading one of Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Armando Galarraga, Edwin Jackson, Nate Robertson, Dontrelle Willis, Zach Miner during the season, according to the Detroit News.

However, Jon Heyman of SI.com says, ‘talks have slowed in the last day or so,’ according to people familiar with the situation, as both sides also weigh other options.’

According to Rieber’s source, the Mets are also ‘having dialogue’ with free agents Ben Sheets, Randy Wolf and Jon Garland

Nevertheless, Heyman says the Mets still are widely viewed as the favorite to sign Perez.

…i’m getting dizzy, again… please, make it stop…

…by the way, Pitchers and Catchers is in three weeks…

However, Heyman still believes Perez and the Mets will eventually work out a deal; ‘though there are no guarantees,’ he added.

Meanwhile, according to Heyman, ‘Ben Sheets and the Rangers have discussed the parameters of a deal,’ though teams continue to have concerns about his medical reports.

…actually, some people believe the Mets have given perez and Scott Boras a weekend deadline to accept their current offer, or the team will re-adjust their target to sheets… i have never known the Mets to give a deadline, though, so i have my doubts here…