NEWSFLASH: Ben Sheets To Undergo Elbow Surgery
Joey Matschulat
A preliminary agreement between Texas and free-agent right-hander Ben Sheets (pictured) reportedly fell through late last week.According to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy and T.R. Sullivan, the Ben Sheets-to-Texas saga has taken a dramatic (and sobering) turn for the worse:
Free agent right-hander Ben Sheets may need surgery to repair the torn flexor tendon in his elbow, and his former employers may be asked to pick up the tab. Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said on Thursday that the team has been in discussions this week with Sheets' agent and officials from Major League Baseball about who would pay for the procedure.
The Texas Rangers and Sheets reached an agreement on a two-year contract late last week 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.
CBSSports.com's Scott Miller reported early Thursday afternoon that Sheets was expected to undergo the procedure -- reportedly set to be performed by legendary orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama -- once the dispute over who would foot his medical bills had been resolved. Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery has not been deemed necessary at this point, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
While both Miller and FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal assert that Sheets could conceivably return during the second half of the season (Miller's sources are saying the procedure will sideline Sheets anywhere from four to six months, a prognosis with which Rosenthal appears to concur), one major league source familiar with the standard recovery time for such a procedure -- as quoted by ESPN.com's Jayson Stark -- estimates that he could be incapacitated for approximately 9 to 10 months.
Why the disparity, you ask? According to Rosenthal, multiple doctors believed that Sheets "stood a good chance of getting through the season healthy," but could not definitively conclude that his partially torn right flexor tendon would survive the rigors of a 30-start campaign until he pitched at maximum intensity during the regular season.
The severity of the tear and how well his eventual rehabilitation progresses will ultimately dictate his timetable for recovery; it is, of course, impossible to say with any degree of certainty at this juncture whether he could realistically still pitch in 2009, and that will remain the status quo until Dr. James Andrews performs his own exhaustive medical assessment.
While the Rangers could theoretically still approach Sheets with a heavily incentive-based multi-year deal comprising minimal guaranteed money -- thus entailing less financial risk -- on the belief that he would still be club property when he was ready to pitch again, general manager Jon Daniels affirmed that the organization "wasn't optimistic" with respect to the possibility of a deal being completed after the preliminary agreement between Sheets and the Rangers collapsed late last week.
Such a commitment also might not appeal to Sheets, who could still be positioned to net a lucrative multi-year contract next winter as one of the better arms in a weak free-agent pitching class, and who would also be rid of the Type A free agent status that presumably played at least a minor role in the meteoric depreciation of his market value this off-season.
Although club owner Tom Hicks did authorize the player-specific expansion of payroll for the abortive signing of Sheets, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the 30-year-old right-hander was an exception to the rule, and that Texas possesses little interest in pursuing one of his similarly priced free-agent peers. Beyond the prospective signing of free-agent right-hander Jason Jennings (whom MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan suggests will likely be inked to a non-roster deal by Texas in the near future), it appears that the Rangers will stand their ground going into spring training in Surprise, Arizona next week.
Reader Comments (35)
Well finally we have a clearer picture... I think it would be in Sheets best interest to stay out this season and rehab, and it looks like he really doesn't have a choice in the matter either.
Count me out on hoping the Rangers sign Sheets, could you imagine what the reaction would have been if we signed him and the fans then found out about this later...OUCH!!!
SOB, at least they had offered him a two-year deal, and at least they didn't figure out he might need surgery after he had already signed.
That just stinks! A healthy Sheets would nave made a huge difference in our rotation. Jamie Newberg suggested Sheets signing a two year deal with a third year team option. 1st year - mlb minimum. 2nd small base and high incentives, and a fairly competitive 3rd year. I would love to do this, but I think if I were Sheets I would rehab myself and try to hit the market again healthy vice lock myself up until I am 33 for not a lot of $$. Thoughts?
I like Newberg's idea too, Andrew. The thing is, when is another pitcher of Sheets' caliber going to come around who actually would consider pitching here? Until Texas shows that it has turned the corner, I don't suppose anyone other than a native Texas would choose this tough path. We'd also have a pretty good arm for the playoff run in 2010 if surgery & rehab went well. I guess it's not my money, though, and if he is one of those guys who can't ever recover, then you just blew a few million dollars for nothing. So I think that's a tough call. Plus, if Texas does sign him to say a 3 year deal, I don't know if Hicks ever lives that one down with the local fans. I can just hear it now:
HICKS TRADES AWAY DANKS, YOUNG, AND GALARRAGA AND TO MAKE UP FOR IT HE SIGNS A PITCHER WHO NEEDS MAJOR RECONSTRUCTIVE ARM SURGERY!
Ouch is right.
The only way I would still sign Sheets, was if it was a minimal deal, with heavy incentives for 2 years, with an option for a third in case he did or didn't recover, so that way your paid back, so to speak,for year one. I don't think he'll pitch this year or that much, so he wouldn't cost too much, with hopes he could recover in time to pitch next year fully healthy. So it would be a pay to rehab type deal, with nothing guaranteed until he took the mound and did something out there.
I'm not a doctor, and don't claim to be, but isn't this odd that it's figured out now, why not in October or November, based upon those who have had the injury before?
Twas not meant to be.
Well, I suppose this all confirms the recent inside rumblings that Sheets's arm was in far worse shape than most believed...I don't know if Jamey's model -- which I still regard as intriguing -- could still work, but the point still stands that Texas is probably the last place Sheets would want to rehabilitate his value, all things considered.
This news really evokes mixed emotions...on the one hand, you're relieved that Texas averted this signing and avoided being stuck paying big guaranteed money for an injured pitcher, but on the other hand you're disappointed that the No. 1-caliber starter you thought could front the rotation in '09 never really existed because his arm was shot.
Anybody care to set the over/under (in percent) on the likelihood of Sheets ever being an effective ML starting pitcher again?
50% it could go either way!!! :)
I'd take the over at 50% that he'll be effective (not necessarily an ace)
Who all has recovered from this injury, and went on to success, anyone got a short list?
I say still sign him to a minimal deal with options for incentive laden years 2 and 3. If he has to rehab this year, that's fine then get him next year. And make the Brewers pay for the rehab.
Credit to the Rangers management for taking this thing as slow and methodically business-like as they did. They were really in a damned-if-you-don't, damned-if-you-do-and-then-he-gets-hurt spot. I, like most other Ranger fans i think, was checking my email about every 20 minutes looking for the big news that we signed him. When the Rangers didn't just jump on that bandwagon, i could feel the big "typical rangers" rant coming from everyone when he signed with the A's. But, that didn't happen, the Rangers played their cards close to the vest, and took this thing step by step like they should have.
Do I still want Ben Sheets? You betcha. Even after a year of rehab, I'll take him in an incentive laden-deal with an option for a third year. (Optimistic much, Jamey?) Would that happen? Doubt it, but the Rangers are decidedly NOT screwed... which is nice for a change.
Here are a couple of names for you:
Jason Jennings
Tom Glavine
Scott Proctor
Juan Padilla
Rodrigo Lopez (but he also had TJ surgery)
Peavy had a strained flexor tendon
Victor Zambrano
Andy Pettitte
Jason Isringhausen
Russ Ortiz
Mike Hampton (also TJ surgery)
Obviously, some of these guys have had other more serious issues, and there are a few on this list who are currently in rehab and so we don't know what the long term effect this kind of surgery will have on them (Proctor, Jennings, & Glavine). Until I came across Pettitte and Isringhausen, it was a pretty dismal list, though, don't you think?
More from CBS Sportsline's Scott Miller while I try to compile this deluge of information into a coherent report:
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6270335/13417280
So, Sheets pretty much won't be pitching in 2009...I think...
Yup. HAD to know something was fishy when so many teams backed off him. It's a damn shame. Looks like Padilla and Millwood are our aces again
Thanks JDolla$
That list is dismal outside of the names you listed. I think Peavy would have to be included in names that take away from the dismal feeling, and maybe Zambrano when he's on.
I think that the news he doesn't need TJ surgery is a small bright spot in wake of the bad news.
It was a good call for Texas not to commit big $ to him. I realize I am in the majority on ths, but I think that Texas' young arms will eventually bring great pitching to Arlington, even without Sheets being in the mix.
I don't like waiting any more than the next guy. But I've been a suffering Rangers fan since at least 1977, so another couple of years won't kill me.
You know I am amazed at how the Rangers front office is able to keep stories like this under wraps. JD and his crew do a really good job of not leaking negotiations to the press (assuming that the whole MY thing did not come from the Rangers). They kept the contract offer to Sheets under wraps (terms have still not come out) and the Santana trade last winter (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jon_heyman/03/14/heyman.rangers/). In Boston, the basic belief is that Theo's brief departure as GM was due partially to different parties leaking information to the press. I'm glad to see the Rangers do not have the same problem.
oops. I meant to say "I am in the MINORITY on this"
The idea of having Deadwood & Padilla head the rotation in 2009 makes me wanna heave
Texrollie, I feel exactly the same way... keep the faith though! We just gotta be patient for just a little while longer until the young guns start showing up in the bigs...
Wasn't meant to be I guess... but at least I can take some comfort in the fact that we where in the process of pulling the trigger when the physical caught this. I think I would have been more disappointed if Sheets had reached an agreement with a different team before they caught this, but knowing we where at least willing to take the risks involved (and even give him the 2-year deal) is of some encouragement.
I still wonder though, if a Jon Leiber-type agreement could be reached with Big Ben, as Jamey suggested in this morning's addition of the Newberg Report - I think Sheets is a good enough pitcher to where he'll have something left in 2010, so I'd be all kinds of on board with paying him league minimum to ride the DL this year and sprinkling his 2010 contract with incentives.
Texrollie: The thought of Millwood and Padilla heading the rotation in 2010 makes me want to hurl. Keep a some things in mind. Nolan Ryan and his conditioning program. Mike Maddux. Holland and Feliz. The glass is half full.
Millwood will probably be stellar this year considering it's an option year and he'll want those incentives. Notice he lost weight, actually started caring, these rants are probably just the fan in me coming out, and I guess it's better late than never. I'll hope he does have a good season, only to possibly flip him, and then watch him revert to his old ways with a new team, of course.
I think our relief plus hope should override our disappointment, especially since we can check out one extra young arm (eg Moscoso) this year while he heals. Then we sign him on July 1 (avoid surrendering the 2nd round draft pick), and are the better for it.
And as we are relieved, imagine how Milwaukee must feel that he said "No" to their ($ 11-millionish) offer for arbitration!
Andrew: That's something I speculated about back on Jan. 25 (which I'll reprint here for the hell of it):
Of course, criticizing the Rangers for their handling of this in light of Sheets's deplorable medical situation would be a flagrant mistake -- if anything, the organization played this about as well as they possibly could have (that is to say, close to the vest). It just didn't work out in the end.
One very minor consideration: since I really can't fathom the Rangers still signing Sheets at this point, the club's second-round pick in the June amateur draft will not only remain intact, but will also move up a spot (unless Sheets signs somewhere and the Brewers still get that sandwich pick)...assuming all seven remaining Type A and B free agents (minus Sheets) end up signing (Orlando Cabrera, Juan Cruz, Orlando Hudson, Manny Ramirez, Paul Byrd, Mark Grudzielanek and Dennys Reyes), and assuming the Mariners fail to sign '08 first-rounder Josh Fields, the Rangers should have picks 13, 42 and 58 in June.
Jon: I'm not sure Sheets will be motivated to take such a deal at this point.
Michael: (great thoughts on the line-up, over in the forum)
In hindsight, being that it's always 20/20, what a mistake by Sheets, who could of collected bank then signed with someone else next season. If he does sign with us July 1st, then I'd be all for that, but risking the pick if another Smoak like player could be there is something I'm not willing to do for Sheets in light of this news. I'm sure he will be effective upon return, but too many questions about that remain unanswerable until he can prove he's back.
Everyone, make sure you check the forum, some great discussions in there. Chime in!!!
There's a forum here?
I don't think there will be a Smoak-caliber player around at pick No. 58, but anything is possible I suppose.
I'm also not sure that his effectiveness is assured once he does return.
Joey: "I'm also not sure that his effectiveness is assured once he does return."
Thats why I said, given the facts that came out today, that you don't give up the pick. You never know who will be available, or who will develop into something special. It's already been speculated that Sheets will be out possibly all season, and may never be the same, and their is still the issue with his shoulder. I just don't see the 58th best player in the draft being worth that gamble right now, taken into consideration some teams are going to hit and miss on who they draft.
I think the line to get sheets after the June draft will be long, if he doesn't sign, but if he really wants to pitch here, hopefully we can keep good relations with him and then sign him. I'm thinking more of the long term, or in the end, what is best.
Rob: I didn't see it my first time here, just hoping more people will weigh in with their opinion to make this site more enjoyable for all.
I didn't know that either. I'll be sure to check the forum out now.
Up on the far right, right below the baseball, Rob, on the blue bar.
The Forum keeps me from trying to change the subject here!
I read that if Sheets doesn't sign until after June 10th, then the Brewers lose any draft pick compensation. Since Sheets won't be playing anytime between now and then and it's unlikely any other team will be interested him at that point, I say wait until then to sign him.
Joey: you were right on what you said about the mixed emotions earlier, it's a relief to finally know what is happening, yet at the same time a sad day to know he won't be our pitcher come opening day.
Mike: It's my understanding that free-agent draft pick compensation is eliminated as soon as the Rule 4 draft is completed, so it's probably a few days sooner than June 10th unless MLB arbitrarily pushed the date back.
It's comforting to know I'm not the only insomniac here.