Friday Morning Ben Sheets ... Stuff
Joey Matschulat
Would free-agent right-hander Ben Sheets benefit from holding out until mid-season?Beleaguered by this incessant chatter about ice storms and faulty rotator cuffs? Then stop down for the latest on the story that just wouldn't go away:
● Brewers general manager Doug Melvin has reiterated his skepticism that Milwaukee will manage to bring back free-agent right-hander Ben Sheets, recounting that his agent, Casey Close, was not remotely interested in an incentive-laden one-year deal -- such as the ones Brad Penny and John Smoltz ultimately nabbed from the Red Sox -- for his client when approached about the possibility several weeks; Melvin and Close have reportedly not spoken since.
● On a somewhat related note, Major League Baseball confirmed on Thursday evening that the Yankees could not have signed Sheets even if they had wanted to, since the signings of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira exhausted their three-player quota of Type A or Type B free agents according to the current version of the collective bargaining agreement (which doesn't expire until December 31st, 2011):
All three were Type A free agents who played for other teams last season aside from the Yankees. The Yankees could re-sign their own Type A or Type B free agents without it affecting the quota.
Under the rules, "if there are from 39 to 62 [Type A and B] players [during a given offseason], no team can sign more than three."
[...] According to an unofficial list compiled by the Sports City Sports News Service, this year there were 63 Type A and Type B free agents -- 29 Type As and 34 of the Type B variety. A Type A player is one who's ranked among the top 20 percent of his group -- pitcher or position player. A Type B player is among the top 40 percent.
Most had assumed that the presence of this line in the CBA -- "If there are more than 62 such players, the club quota shall be increased accordingly" -- would equate to an automatic expansion of the quota; however, Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president of labor relations, informed MLB.com that because the Yankees did not approach the league about potentially adding a fourth Type A or Type B player, the quota remained static.
That, if anything, should indicate just how vague the Yankees' interest was in Sheets all along. One can only presume that more serious dialogue between the two sides would have prompted New York to make immediate contact with the league in order to sort out the quota issue -- which Yankees general manager Brian Cashman certainly knew about -- and clear the path to his potential signing of any remaining obstructions. None of that happened.
[12:50 P.M. Update: MLB.com's Barry M. Bloom, the author of the article linked above, has apparently retracted the assertion that the Yankees can sign no more Type A or Type B free agents. A top baseball official informed Bloom this morning that an exemption was granted and that the Yankees could sign additional ranked players, all of which seemingly flies in the face of what Manfred himself told Bloom.
Very, very bizarre, and my apologies for disseminating inaccurate information. I suppose I will have to exercise more caution the next time Bloom publishes such an eye-opening revelation, because there will apparently be a better-than-zero chance that he'll promptly retract it.]
● FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal makes the case for Sheets scorning his few half-hearted suitors and retaining his free-agent status until attrition-weary contenders looking for summer mercenaries come a-callin':
Sheets, 30, would be far more attractive, a potential No. 1 starter in waiting. Imagine the frenzy if he was unable to get the deal he wanted and remained available at mid-season. Teams concerned about his history of arm trouble might actually prefer him for only 15 or 20 starts.
The question is whether Sheets would embrace a hired-gun concept in the prime of his career. Only a confident, tough-minded player would risk starting the season without a contract.
It's a dangerous strategy to employ, albeit one that Roger Clemens quite successfully leveraged to his financial gain in 2007 when he extracted a one-year, $28 million deal out of the Yankees (which actually paid him a pro-rated sum of approximately $17.4 million, the result of him not throwing a major league pitch until June 9th). The overriding question, however, is whether Sheets would be amenable to such a radical proposition, or whether he would actually subject himself to such risk.
● And finally, because this humble sector of the Texas Rangers blogosphere has always been about looking forward (well, most of the time anyway), predict in the comments section the day (i.e. February 4th) and time (i.e. 11:30 p.m. -- all times will be assumed to be Central Standard Time) that the news of Sheets reaching an agreement will leak onto the Internet, as well as the team with whom he will sign.
Whoever comes the closest to correctly guessing all three components -- which will be prioritized by team, date and time, in that order -- will win ... well, the undying adulation and respect of his or her peers, and maybe something from the BBTiA treasure chest. We'll get back to you on that one.
Reader Comments (41)
I'll say Sheets will sign with the Brewers on Feb13th at 4pm.
Rangers. Feb-3. 9AM.
Wednesday is perfect.. everyone will have Super Bowl talk out of there system, and the Rangers signing Sheets can be the only real sports talk for the rest of the week. I'll say Feb. 9th, 2 pm., giving everyone a whole week to talk about it.
Thursday, Feb 5th, 10:30 a.m.
Rangers, Feb. 4 9:00 p.m. leakage.
I almost said today, but I think it will take a bit longer.
February 2nd @ 1 AM - Rangers
February 16th
Rangers
10:15
The BBTiA treasure chest contains autographed pictures of Keith Law (signed by Joey) and not much else. I might be able to dig up a few autographed pictures of Kevin Goldstein (signed by Keith Law), but I can't promise anything.
Rangers--February 3rd, 4pm
rangers- Feb. 5th 10:47 am
I am a noob here, but I will throw a dart at the board and guess...Tuesday, Feb 3rd at 6:38 am he is announced to sign with the Rangers
I'll say February 10th, 11:00 a.m. CT, with the Rangers...and it will be for an $8 million one-year deal with an additional $5 million if Sheets pitches either 135 innings or in 18 games, with a dual option for 2010--Sheets will get an option for $14 million if he gets 135 K's or more in 2009, and the Rangers will get a $10 million option for 2010 with a $2 million buyout if he gets fewer than 135 K's.
I think that Ben Sheets will sign with the Rangers on February 6th at 2:34 pm
I don't think he signs with the Rangers but just for fun...
Rangers 2/10/09 8:30p.m
The "getting close to signing" leak Rangers Feb 4th 2:00pm CST. The "signed" leak Rangers Feb 6th 4pm CST.
RANGERS - FEBRUARY3,2009 - 6 P.M. LEAKED TO INTERNET.
Feb 4th 5am
If the groundhog doesn't see his shadow, Sheets signs with the Rangers on February 2nd at 12:31pm. If he does see his shadow, Sheets will sign with the surging Rangers on June 19th.
Mets Feb. 03 9am
Rangers, Feb 9, 12:00 Noon
Rangers 2/2/09 10 a.m.
Rangers, two days after Perez signs with the Mets... so, Feb 13, 11AM -- yes, Friday the 13th
Hmmm...
Los Angeles Dodgers
February 10
3:45 pm.
Well, I think mattrpav has it right, that the leak will be ambiguous, and Tyler has it right that they'll let the Super Bowl have its day of aftermath.
I think the leak that the Rangers are "close to an agreement" will come Tuesday, Feb 3rd at 5:06 pm, and that they have "...reached an agreement at 11:06 am on WEDNESDAY, FEB 4th.
[And with this note from MLBTR, "11:37am: Bloom says that a unilateral exception was granted this offseason allowing any team to sign as many as eight Type A or B free agents. A total of 216 free agents filed, an exceptionally high number. Another note: Bloom learned from Manfred that while draft pick compensation would be eliminated if the player waits until after the June draft to sign, it has yet to occur... "
I predict that Varitek pulls the ultimate fast one on the BoSox, signs with the Yanks for 6 million guaranteed,and a team/player 6/4 million option for 2010,...
...forcing the Sox to try and one-up them by trading Buchholz and Littleton(BACK)---> to us for---> Salty, Kiker and Blalock,
...leaving the Rangers enough cash to swing the above-mentioned signing of Sheets for one year guaranteed, at 8 million, a 2nd year that vests after 150 innings for 12 million, and team option in 2011 for 13 million, with a 2 million dollar buy-out (netting him 33 million for 3, or $22 for 2, if he can just pitch 150 innings this year, and only 8 million if he can't)...
... and leaving TX with Max-o to DH vs.lefties, and split C duty with Tea against righties, and a starting rotation of Sheets, Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy and Buchholz while Harrison, Feldman, Nippert, Moscoso, and Diamond round out the all-new 5-day "Ranger-Relief Rotation," with CJ and FX^2 serving as a L/R closer platoon and Josh Rupe battling Wes Littleton to take an uncanny 13th pitcher spot as a swingman/spot reliever.]
(Have I beaten the dead horse 'deader' yet?)
Rangers, Feb 17th , 11:15AM
1:01pm: From Jon Heyman: the Red Sox reached an agreement on a two-year deal with Varitek.
Well, that shoots that theory... The sox will still look for a young C, but that shoots our leverage there, and means no Buchholz.
Whether it affects the signing of Sheets... nah.
Rangers, Feb. 3, 9:00pm
As much as I'd like to see it happen, I don't think anyone's going to force Theo's hand into dealing away Buchholtz for one of our catchers (unless Texas is going to throw in another name like Feliz - which would render the whole deal pointless, anyway).
Hope I'm wrong.
Contest clarification: "Close to an agreement" does not equal "agreement" in the context of this little game. We'll go off of the first legitimate news source (i.e. the DMN, FWST, ESPN, SI, FOX Sports) to confirm that an agreement has actually been struck.
My guess? Texas, February 1st at 10:30 pm.
Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe wrote yesterday that the Red Sox would revisit trade talks with the Rangers and D'Backs on Saltalamacchia and Montero independent of the Varitek situation, but you still have to figure that some of the pressure has been taken off Boston. Of course, has a deal ever seemed all that likely? There's been a significant disconnect between what the Red Sox have been willing to do and the Rangers have been willing to do in terms of a trade this winter, and it's evident that not much progress has been made in that regard.
I wouldn't want to trade any of the 3 (plus a marginal P prospect) for anyone short of Buchholz, Volstad, Nolasco, Sanchez, Bailey or Hughes or a similar potential #2, current #5 type.
Anything less is what we've already got in potential #3's and 4's who are ready to be #5's, and potential #1 and 2's, who aren't MLB ready.
With Varitek and Posada being so dubious, the value of catchers is only going up!
Rangers - 2/12 - 2:00 am
1 Dollar
Rangers/Feb 23/5:00pm CST
That's my prediction... HOWEVER, I have this awful feeling that some other team is going to come in a guarantee that 2nd year. Maybe a team nobody's considered like the Padres or Cards... or Astros.
I could see the Astros adding him for 2 yrs/20M with another $5M sttainable through incentives. Regardless, he walks away at the end of 2010 $20M richer.
I really hope I'm wrong... but you have to wonder why teams are not jumping on this guy. My mind keeps thinking back to the likes of Carlos Silva last year, and Gil Meche the year before that... and you have to wonder if this guys arm is totally jacked up.
His stats scream ace... he's every bit the pitcher Harden, Haren, Beckett, etc... is yet NOBODY wants to touch him! Something's fishy...
Even if my beloved Rangers don't land him... and they don't trade for Bucholtz, etc... I really like how 2009/2010/2011 is shaping up.
I'd be willing to bet a handsome amount that Holland ends up in the 09 rotation... and we start seeing the likes of Feliz, Perez, Bannister, etc... break grouns in Arlington.
I love BA's projected 2012 line up... and though it's unlikely we'll have a WS ring by then, I'll bet we'll be very compeitive for the next 10 years.
Rangers - Febuary 2nd. Word leaks onto the net at 5 AM CST. After several hours of rampant speculation and only mildly restrained celebration, the rumors are confirmed, and the press conference is held at about 11 AM. I log onto my computer at about 11-12 pacific, and find myself overjoyed at the news, yet late to the party and far too overwhelmed to go through the thousands of comments from that glorious morning.
First
02/04/2009
11 am
Salty for Bucholz on 02/12/2009
Maybe we can now finally put a collective fork in the Salty for Buchholtz rumors for this spring. Varitek signed with Boston for 2009 & an option for 2010.
"Yankees propose Hughes for Salty swap, with midnight deadline..."
Just kidding, JD$.
The more I think about it, the more I think this Sheets signing would excite the fan base and get everyone geared for 2009, rather than expecting another year of watching the kids develop for 2011. How fun would it be to go watch Sheets on Opening Day, rather than dumpy Millwood.
I also have no faith in the Rangers risk-taking ability after Hicks got burned by Park and Millwood.
Mets Feb. 5th.
L.A. Dodgers, Feb 12, 4:30 p.m.
MJ, Ottawa, Canada
One more OT prediction (after Jason Varitek so quickly shot down my first): Sheets-- with wife if he's married-- gets spotted in some luxury box at the Super Bowl with Tom Hicks.