2008-12-07T21:38:30-05:00 <p>LAS VEGAS -- Star free agent pitcher <strong>Ben Sheets</strong> is expected to decline the Brewers' offer of arbitration by Sunday night's midnight deadline, sources say.</p> <p>And while the free-agent market for the right-hander hasn't appeared robust so far, it's also expected that the Yankees may make a push for Sheets, who went 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA last year for Milwaukee but was derailed by an injury very late in the season.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />There had been some speculation that Sheets, who made $12 million last year, might accept arbitration in what looks like an iffy market for him. However, if&nbsp;the Yankees are interested, it would make little sense to tie himself to a one-year contract via the arbitration process.</p> Sheets expected to say no to Brewers' arbitration offer 2008-12-07T17:21:53-05:00 25 2008-12-07T17:21:53-05:00 1 3 10 2008-12-07T21:38:30-05:00 3 NY 1YanksFan85 New York 609046 25 The Ray's recieved 33 million in revenue sharing last year. There 08' payroll was 43 million. There developed talent is payed for by the the 29 other teams in MLB. Smart move until it comes back to bite them. Once they start having to draft later in the round the talent won't be there. I will admit the Red Sox have spent wisely while also bringing in Japanese talent who won't cost them a draft pick. 3571575 2008-12-07T20:12:36-05:00 27 Fl scoobydew7 Jacksonville 513041 12 The Yankees need to spend hundreds of millions more on pitching. Everybody knows this is the single dumbest thing you can do in the free agency market. Ask the Giants how they like giving the vault to Barry Zito or the Braves giving it to Mike Hampton. Wait, didn't the Yankess learn that lesson with Pavano??? Guess not. Brian Cashman is wondering what he would do next if CC or Burnett sign and then go down for the year by May...work on his resume? Maybe the Yankees should ask themselves why the Rays do not have to do this. Developing talent is still the smartes way to go. 3570998 2008-12-07T21:10:07-05:00 1 XX No.27thisyear No City 359094 The Yankees need to spend hundreds of millions more on pitching. Everybody knows this is the single dumbest thing you can do in the free agency market. Ask the Giants how they like giving the vault to Barry Zito or the Braves giving it to Mike Hampton. Wait, didn't the Yankess learn that lesson with Pavano??? Guess not. Brian Cashman is wondering what he would do next if CC or Burnett sign and then go down for the year by May...work on his resume?Maybe the Yankees should ask themselves why the Rays do not have to do this. Developing talent is still the smartes way to go. 24 Where were you when Redsox just spent $51MM to talk to a pitcher who had never pitched a single pitch in the MLB? At least, Yankees are trying to get a legit ace who has pitched in MLB for years and has potential to carry a team. It sounds like sour grapes beacuse your owners are to cheap to spend money. 3571360 2008-12-07T20:55:06-05:00 3 NY 1YanksFan85 New York 609046 23 Scooby, Where were you the past 10 years when the Ray's were in the cellar of the AL East, now they take the pennant for 1 year and your all high and mighty. It is very easy to pick excellent players when every year you can draft in the top 3. Soon the Red Sox will start feeling the effects the Yankees are now. Baseball is cyclical, any writer will tell you. As for Sheets, low risk\high reward is regarding the 2 year deal at 13-14 million compared to 20+ million for CC. Signing him will not help the Yankees, Tex will, 140+ games a year, while CC will pitch in 30+... 3571275 2008-12-07T20:41:25-05:00 619 NJ yankees66 Cape May Court House 628332 22 The Rays had a great season and they have done a great job building the organization, But until they start getting more than 15,000 to 20,000 fans per game, They will eventually lose the players they have. It seemed like the fair weather fans came out late this year. 3571178 2008-12-07T20:36:25-05:00 27 Fl scoobydew7 Jacksonville 513041 21 All of the Yankee stars are old and on the downhill side of their careers. The Rays have Longoria, Upton, Bartlett, Pena...and the best pitching staff in the majors with Price joining five strong starters. Who is better situated for the next ten years? 3571150 2008-12-07T20:36:15-05:00 619 NJ yankees66 Cape May Court House 628332 20 I admit the Pavano signing was a disaster, But the Yankees never even sniffed at signing Zito. 3571149 2008-12-07T20:31:43-05:00 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/206/097/thumb/yazthumb.jpg 921 WI Yaz #8 Oregon 206397 19 Even if Sheets didn't get a super offer, I think he is smart to reject arbitration. If he takes arbitration and gets $14M, but then suffers a significant injury, he'll get nothing next year. But even if he takes a figure below what he might win in arbitration, let's say $36M over 3 years, that's money in the bank. Don't go pulling a &quot;Nomar,&quot; where you turn down big guaranteed dollars to go test the market. 3571080 2008-12-07T20:30:34-05:00 619 NJ yankees66 Cape May Court House 628332 18 With Sheets Pitching for a playoff team last season, Why would he want to pitch for one of the two sorry loser teams in Texas? Don't pencil him in for the lone or should I say lonely star state yet. 3571143 2008-12-07T20:24:49-05:00 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/597/315/thumb/TO.jpg 136 NY avirex34 New York 597955 17 I admit, Pedroia is definitely better than Cano. 3571115 2008-12-07T20:12:36-05:00 27 Fl scoobydew7 Jacksonville 513041 12 The Yankees need to spend hundreds of millions more on pitching. Everybody knows this is the single dumbest thing you can do in the free agency market. Ask the Giants how they like giving the vault to Barry Zito or the Braves giving it to Mike Hampton. Wait, didn't the Yankess learn that lesson with Pavano??? Guess not. Brian Cashman is wondering what he would do next if CC or Burnett sign and then go down for the year by May...work on his resume? Maybe the Yankees should ask themselves why the Rays do not have to do this. Developing talent is still the smartes way to go. 3570998 2008-12-07T20:22:30-05:00 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/597/315/thumb/TO.jpg 136 NY avirex34 New York 597955 The Yankees need to spend hundreds of millions more on pitching. Everybody knows this is the single dumbest thing you can do in the free agency market. Ask the Giants how they like giving the vault to Barry Zito or the Braves giving it to Mike Hampton. Wait, didn't the Yankess learn that lesson with Pavano??? Guess not. Brian Cashman is wondering what he would do next if CC or Burnett sign and then go down for the year by May...work on his resume?Maybe the Yankees should ask themselves why the Rays do not have to do this. Developing talent is still the smartes way to go. 16 Yea, and how many years did it take them to be good? And calm down, it's one year. I want to see if they can do this...let's say to 2021. And you're comparing the Yankees to the Rays.... Plus the Yankees are paying the small market/cheap owners through revenue sharing = Yankees are good for baseball. 3571089 25 <p>LAS VEGAS -- Star free agent pitcher <strong>Ben Sheets</strong> is expected to decline the Brewers' offer of arbitration by Sunday night's midnight deadline, sources say.</p> <p>And while the free-agent market for the right-hander hasn't appeared robust so far, it's also expected that the Yankees may make a push for Sheets, who went 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA last year for Milwaukee but was derailed by an injury very late in the season.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />There had been some speculation that Sheets, who made $12 million last year, might accept arbitration in what looks like an iffy market for him. However, if&nbsp;the Yankees are interested, it would make little sense to tie himself to a one-year contract via the arbitration process.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />So far, the Yankees have far played hard for starting pitchers <strong>CC Sabathia</strong>, <strong>Derek Lowe</strong> and <strong>A.J. Burnett,</strong> but they would consider Sheets if they can't reach deals&nbsp;with one or two of the others.</p> <p>The Yankees appear to be the market leader for Sabathia at $140 million over six years, while they've suggested four-year contracts for both Lowe and Burnett, who are each seeking five-year deals.</p> <p>Sabathia hasn't exactly rushed to take the Yankees' big offer but, at his request, the pitcher was&nbsp;expected to meet here Sunday&nbsp;with Yankees general manager <strong>Brian Cashman</strong>.</p> 29841 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/100/64/thumb/Heyman_Jon.png 0 NY Jon Heyman New York 10084