2009-01-14T10:13:15-05:00 <p>One of the best free-agent pitchers may still be waiting for his first multiyear offer to come in. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>There's no evidence <strong>Ben Sheets</strong> has received any proposals for two years or more yet, though he's drawing interest from at least the Rangers and Yankees, and very likely his old Brewers team, as well. Sheets rejected Milwaukee's offer of arbitration and would figure to get a two-year offer at some point.</p> <p>Sheets has had a career that's comparable or even better than <strong>A.J. Burnett</strong>, who's signed with the Yankees for $82.5 million over five years, but is&nbsp;being hurt&nbsp;by bad timing. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> Injury history, bad timing hurting Sheets 2008-12-17T10:31:56-05:00 14 2008-12-17T10:31:56-05:00 1 2 10 2008-12-18T13:02:37-05:00 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/559/981/thumb/DSCF7005.jpg 9 NC Gray Angel Greensboro 560461 15 Sheets is one of those High Risk - High Reward gambles. Unfortunately for him there's not a whole lot of extra money floating around baseball for betting on that kind of player right now. 3701313 2008-12-18T02:31:43-05:00 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/551/26/thumb/arizona-state-cheerleader-sparky_1_.jpg 25 AZ cdread01 Tempe 55406 14 I tend to agree with the fellow who said to limit Sheets' innings. I would actually go even one step further. I would only pitch Ben every sixth start. The way baseball schedules games now, the other startes would still be on normal rest 95% of the time, and he would pitch maybe 22 to 23 times, and be less likely to break down. That still gives about 10 starts or so to Phil or Ian as well. As for the comment on team chemistry, it definitely plays a factor in baseball. Just look at the Yankees of the 80's. they had huge talent, but couldn't beat anybody to get into the playoffs. They had a ton of hired guns then, too, and I am scared to death this team is looking more and more like that. The '98 Yanks had role players and had a family feel to them, and they were one of the best teams in the history of baseball. This team does not have anyone like a Scott Brosius or Paul O'Neill or Tino Martinez. A team needs that to succeed as much as they need talent. A team with no heart stands very little chance in the long run. I hate to say it, but the Red Sox over the last few years have had tons of heart (even if Schilling is the world's biggest schmuck - and he most definitely is) and that is a big reason why they have been so successful of late. 3695873 2008-12-17T22:08:26-05:00 6 FL Decordova360 Palm Bay 607571 13 Sheets is a waste of time... and pettite aint gonna waste time with a multi yr deal from some team thats hiding... if they're hiding its a definate team that wont and hasn't made the playoffs.....pettite isn't going to sign with another team.... he wnts yankees and to win the championship.... especially the rotation they have....i think they should get tiexiera instead of manny..i hope someone can respond to this... i said to a friend that yankees have the best strong rotation and he said that it doesn't matter that they should have won it when they signed AROD that they the yankees dont have chemistry... do one of u guys believe in that 3694029 2008-12-17T20:34:37-05:00 1 MO warner3719 Saint Louis 636748 12 the cards should sign but are to cheap to spend any money on anybody but washed up players. they are lucky they have albert or they would be the worst team in baseball. and why in the world do they have chris duncan on the roster? because his dad is the pitching coach. period. he would not make any team in baseballs roster on opening day. at least we have the all star game to get ready for. 3693297 2008-12-17T14:19:51-05:00 1121 CA Yankee27 Castaic 188694 6 Yankees... get Sheets for 2 years. Limit his innings to 6 (max) in April/May, skip 5 starts through out the season and have Hughes/Kennedy get some action. This will limit Sheets to around 160-175 innings and hopefully keep him healthly for the season/post season. 3688467 2008-12-17T20:21:11-05:00 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/634/562/thumb/PH02053J.jpg 22 CT Sandman714 Vernon Rockville 635202 Yankees... get Sheets for 2 years. Limit his innings to 6 (max) in April/May, skip 5 starts through out the season and have Hughes/Kennedy get some action. This will limit Sheets to around 160-175 innings and hopefully keep him healthly for the season/post season. 11 I think this is a good plan for Sheets and it gets the youngsters some action without throwing them headlong into a starting slot. Additionally, they have Geise for any short starts as a long reliever. Good plan at an affordable price. 3693227 2008-12-17T18:33:47-05:00 4 GA samxrm Augusta 217704 10 The real problem with no one taking Sheets is his propensity for superficial injuries. He's ready to go on the 60-day DL for a hangnail. Just not a tough guy, can't play with anything on the line. The guy would be a disaster in a big market. His bet bet would be to just stay in Milwaukee. 3692172 2008-12-17T17:51:01-05:00 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/631/340/thumb/yankee_tatoo.jpg 27 NJ tony gags Parsippany 631980 9 enough pitchin ,,,,, dont forget the young kids lets bolster the offense now... ie: manny...tex 3691750 2008-12-17T16:44:05-05:00 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/971/01/thumb/shelprock.jpg 188 CA badluck shleprock Bakersfield 97401 8 I can't believe this guy hasn't gotten more attention from clubs who really need pitching (are you listening O's) 3690891 2008-12-17T14:49:59-05:00 29 XX J-DuBz No City 629074 7 a no sign him and pitch him like u would piitch cc 3689035 2008-12-17T14:19:51-05:00 1121 CA Yankee27 Castaic 188694 6 Yankees... get Sheets for 2 years. Limit his innings to 6 (max) in April/May, skip 5 starts through out the season and have Hughes/Kennedy get some action. This will limit Sheets to around 160-175 innings and hopefully keep him healthly for the season/post season. 3688467 14 <p>One of the best free-agent pitchers may still be waiting for his first multiyear offer to come in. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>There's no evidence <strong>Ben Sheets</strong> has received any proposals for two years or more yet, though he's drawing interest from at least the Rangers and Yankees, and very likely his old Brewers team, as well. Sheets rejected Milwaukee's offer of arbitration and would figure to get a two-year offer at some point.</p> <p>Sheets has had a career that's comparable or even better than <strong>A.J. Burnett</strong>, who's signed with the Yankees for $82.5 million over five years, but is&nbsp;being hurt&nbsp;by bad timing. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>Both pitchers have suffered from a variety of injuries in their otherwise&nbsp;impressive careers. The only difference appears to be in the timing of Sheets' latest pain. While Burnett pitched superbly in the second half last year and wound up with a career-high 18 victories, Sheets finished at 13-9 with a stellar 3.09 ERA but suffered a September injury that appears to be giving teams pause. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Several teams have been poring over Sheets' medical reports, including the Yankees and Rangers. However, the Yankees appear for the moment to be waiting for <strong>Andy Pettitte</strong> to give them an answer about their $10-million, one-year offer before&nbsp;making a bid to Sheets. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Sheets' medical reports are said to not contain anything alarming. But he has had a variety of aches and pains over the years, involving his back, elbow area and other areas. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>Last year's injury is said to involve the flexor tendon muscle and not the actual elbow. Even so, teams are being very cautious with him so far.</p> 33281 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/100/64/thumb/Heyman_Jon.png 0 NY Jon Heyman New York 10084