The Rangers remain cautiously in the hunt for right-hander Ben Sheets but are concerned about his health.
Sheets, a free agent who lives in Dallas, has a torn flexor tendon in his right arm. He did not have surgery but rather rested and rehabbed it over the winter. The Rangers have experience with this injury, and it wasn't a pleasant one. Last year, the club signed free agent right-hander Jason Jennings to a one-year deal worth $4 million, hoping the Dallas native had overcome a torn flexor tendon. Jennings made six starts for the Rangers, going 0-5 with an 8.56 ERA, then went on the DL for the remainder of the season. He did eventually undergo surgery.
The stakes for Sheets are higher. It is likely to take at least two years of guaranteed money to get him, and the price tag appears to be between $8 million and $10 million per year.
Competition for Sheets' services, however, might be thinning. The Yankees' agreement with left-hander Andy Pettitte took them out of the mix. If the Mets get a deal done to keep lefty Oliver Perez, they'd fall off the Sheets scene, too.
Sheets, 30, made 31 starts for Milwaukee last season, going 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA. He has not, however, reached 200 innings since 2004. The Rangers have not had a 200-inning pitcher in either of the past two seasons and desperately need somebody to emerge as staff workhorse.
