Ben Sheets announced he will undergo surgery to repair his arm. Could it be the Brewers, Rangers, etc. rejected his high $$/multi-year demands because they weren’t comfortable with his long term health. Did he figure out that, with a combination of today’s declining market and his health risk, he would do better to remove the health concerns now, and come back when the market returns?
This is a stunner for several reasons:
1. We couldn’t figure out why Theo would pick up re-habbing Smoltz, Penny, Saito, Bard, Baldelli and not the brilliant Ben Sheets, who they had coveted earlier. They knew something even Ben’s latest medical records couldn’t overcome, and they were right.
2. The Sox selectivity re: injured players seems based on excellent medical savvy (see 2008: Bartolo Colon vs. Freddie Garcia). To me, this means the Sox demonstrably excellent medical staff are confident in the recovery AND 2009 CONTRIBUTIONS of Smoltz, Penny, Saito, Bard, Baldelli. That’s good news.
3. More good news: this also means this medical staff is also confident in a high level of recovery by, and contributions from, Papi, Mike Lowell, JD Drew, J. Lugo, J. Lowrie, J. Ellsbury, J. Beckett (or by now we would have signed Teix, Abreu, Bradley or Dunn, Citron or Hairston, etc.)
4. Sheets plans to come back mid-season, following surgery and rehab. Would he continue to look for a multi-year deal, or will he be available to a contender like the Sox on a short term deal, perhaps with options, to prove his health and raise his value back to the level of his peers. I’ll bet Theo’s team has already talked with his agent.
