Ben Sheets Could Be Interesting...

Later today, the often injured (yet potentially amazing) pitcher Ben Sheets will audition for teams to show that he is healthy for the 2010 season. Teams on this list include: the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers and our beloved New York Mets.

Sheets spent the entire 2009 season on the DL while recovering from surgery to fix his torn flexor tendon. But as many of us know, Sheets had been brilliant in 2008 and 2007, when he won between 12 and 13 games and had an ERA hovering just above 3.00.

But, by missing the 2009 season, Sheets does not come without significant risk. Rumors have been swirling that he wants around 10 million guaranteed annually, which no team is sure to commit to. Sheets also seemed hesitant to throw for teams throughout the off season, and has just recently agreed to pitch later today.

If Sheets has a strong outing today, I would 100% advocate signing him to a 1 or 2 year deal with a team option thrown in. If healthy, Sheets is one of the best and most devastating pitchers in baseball and if he is slotted behind Johan Santana, could be the best #2 in the game. The Mets have been kicking the tires on Joel Pineiro to fill their #2 starter void, which lets face it, just does not cut it. Sheets could be a legitimate #2 starter this team has lacked for so long. A healthy rotation of Santana, Sheets, Pelfrey, Maine, and Ollie/Niese has the ability to be solid and borderline great (if everything works out and everyone pitches to their ability).

My rational behind signing Sheets is simple. The Mets need to make a bold move and hope for the best. Teams like the Red Sox made bold moves that made them what they are today. If the Mets were to sign Sheets, it would of course be a gamble, in fact it would be an enormous gamble. But the benefits the Mets would get from a healthy Sheets would be extraordinary for this club. In a division with the Phillies and a now very scary Marlins team, the Mets are in a position where they can't settle for the Joel Pineiros of the world who only "kinda sorta" fix a problem. Sheets (if healthy) 100% fixes our most glaring problem and effectively gives the Mets a rotation that could compete with the best in the league.