Free-agent pitcher Ben Sheets - late of the Milwaukee Brewers and the All-Star Game starter for the National League in 2008 - was closing in on a deal with the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers were offering a 2-year contract with only $10 million in guaranteed money but lots of incentives.
Then they had to go and do a physical exam. What they found scared the Rangers away from the proposed contract with Sheets, and will send Sheets under the knife.
Sheets' right elbow bothered him down the stretch last season and he didn't pitch in the playoffs. The MRI ordered by the Rangers showed a torn flexor tendon.
What awaits Sheets now is surgery. After that? He'll likely sign a two-year deal with someone - the Rangers haven't ruled out this possibility - that provides minimal pay for 2010 while Sheets rehabs, then an incentive-laden pay structure for 2011.
Showing posts with label Ben Sheets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ben Sheets. Show all posts
Friday, February 06, 2009
Monday, August 11, 2008
Rangers' Nolan Ryan Targets CC Sabathia, Sheets
Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan -- now playing the part of the floundering president of the woeful Texas Rangers -- is expected to tap team owner Tom Hicks' bank account for $100 million or so to acquire some real pitching next year -- with Brewers free agents CC Sabathia or Ben Sheets among his goals.
That's what gumshoe Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe has learned while awaiting for the Red Sox to face the Rangers this week, while unrelated reports have described the all-time strikeout king as being insufferably frustrated with his team's league worst 5.27 ERA.
If Sabathia and Sheets cannot be had, Ryan likely will trade with the Blue Jays for A.J. Burnett.
"It's a shame the Rangers have given away Justin Duchscherer, Chris Young, Armando Galarraga, and John Danks in various trades or they'd have a pretty good staff," Cafardo said.
It's also a shame that the Rangers play in perhaps the worst hitters' park in the league, with few marque pitchers likely to seriously consider playing there.
That's what gumshoe Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe has learned while awaiting for the Red Sox to face the Rangers this week, while unrelated reports have described the all-time strikeout king as being insufferably frustrated with his team's league worst 5.27 ERA.
If Sabathia and Sheets cannot be had, Ryan likely will trade with the Blue Jays for A.J. Burnett.
"It's a shame the Rangers have given away Justin Duchscherer, Chris Young, Armando Galarraga, and John Danks in various trades or they'd have a pretty good staff," Cafardo said.
It's also a shame that the Rangers play in perhaps the worst hitters' park in the league, with few marque pitchers likely to seriously consider playing there.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Yankees Offer Top Prospect Alan Horne in Trade
The Yankees are readying to showcase top prospect Alan Horne -- currently pitching for Triple A Scranton-Wilkes Barre -- in an attempt to acquire starters Eric Bedard of the Mariners or Ben Sheets of the Brewers, a mid-ranking, confidential clubhouse source told www.MLBnewsonline.com.
Barring setbacks in his performance, Horne likely will be promoted to New York before the end of the month, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Horne, 25, having fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, has been throwing a lively fastball that occasionally tops out at 97-mph, complementing it with a bonafide, major league curveball and a newly improved changeup.
If unsuccessful in a deal for Bedard or Sheets, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman will fall back on a lateral negotiation to acquire lefty Randy Wolf from the Padres, according to the source. Cashman is trying to accomplish either deal without fanfare, the source said.
In addition to Horne, an unnamed pitcher and middle infielder at Short A Staten Island are also among the components of the transaction, said the source.
Barring setbacks in his performance, Horne likely will be promoted to New York before the end of the month, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Horne, 25, having fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, has been throwing a lively fastball that occasionally tops out at 97-mph, complementing it with a bonafide, major league curveball and a newly improved changeup.
If unsuccessful in a deal for Bedard or Sheets, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman will fall back on a lateral negotiation to acquire lefty Randy Wolf from the Padres, according to the source. Cashman is trying to accomplish either deal without fanfare, the source said.
In addition to Horne, an unnamed pitcher and middle infielder at Short A Staten Island are also among the components of the transaction, said the source.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Brewers Insist Ben Sheets Totally Healthy
It's the same thing the Brewers said last year about ace pitcher Ben Sheets: Sheets is 100 percent healthy.
"If he's not, we'll find out," bullpen coach Bill Castro told MLB News Online, noting that come hell or high water Sheets will be the opening day starter when the Brewers face Carlos Zambrano and the I-94 rival Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago next week.
Castro insists Sheets is completely healthy.
Though Sheets was given a clean bill of health during last year's camp, he went on to face his usual myriad of health problems throughout the season, and was unable to pitch for more than 141 innings.
Perhaps portending of things to come, Sheets camp ERA this year stands at 9.56, having just given up four homers -- two to White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome -- and nine earned runs in five innings.
They may be whistling in the dark, but Sheets' teammates say nothing is wrong.
"I'm sure he is throwing completely normally," said non-roster pitcher Chris Narveson, who has played catch with Sheets and thrown alongside him throughout camp.
"If he's not, we'll find out," bullpen coach Bill Castro told MLB News Online, noting that come hell or high water Sheets will be the opening day starter when the Brewers face Carlos Zambrano and the I-94 rival Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago next week.
Castro insists Sheets is completely healthy.
Though Sheets was given a clean bill of health during last year's camp, he went on to face his usual myriad of health problems throughout the season, and was unable to pitch for more than 141 innings.
Perhaps portending of things to come, Sheets camp ERA this year stands at 9.56, having just given up four homers -- two to White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome -- and nine earned runs in five innings.
They may be whistling in the dark, but Sheets' teammates say nothing is wrong.
"I'm sure he is throwing completely normally," said non-roster pitcher Chris Narveson, who has played catch with Sheets and thrown alongside him throughout camp.
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Doctor X -- the 'Baseball Medic' -- is an anonymous U.S. government trauma specialist with a Duke University sports medicine background and more than 20 years experience in emergency medicine. From time to time he considers MLB rumors, events and news reports as they pertain to baseball players' injuries, illnesses and various other disabilities, both on the field and off.
MLB Rumors editor Greg Fieg is a former sports news editor and award-winning writer whose bylines have appeared on the wires of the Associated Press and in numerous publications, including San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Light, Houston Chronicle and Philadelphia Bulletin. He formerly was posted in various positions on the U.S.-Mexican border with Freedom Newspapers, and was a regular, independent contributor to United Press International.