Could Ben Sheets come to Boston?
Posted on June 25, 2008
Filed Under Baseball Miscellaneous |
Earlier today starting pitcher Ben Sheets of the Milwaukee Brewers announced that he will officially test the free agency market at the end of this season (link).
Would I like to see Ben Sheets in a Red Sox uniform next year?
No question about it.
Do I think that Theo Epstein will take a chance on signing him in the offseason?
Maybe but probably not.
Despite what people say about CC Sabathia, Sheets will probably be the best free agent arm available this offseason. If the Brewers drop out of contention early, he could also be trade bait sometime in the next month or so. I don’t think Theo Epstein will trade for him this season nor do I think he’ll make him an outrageously high contract offer next winter. Here’s why..
Check out some numbers on Ben Sheets for the past 3 years that you may or may not be aware of:
Average Games Started (05-07): 21
Average Innings Pitched (05-07): 134.7
Average ERA (05-07): 3.63
Average K/BB Ratio (05-07): 4.97
His numbers are flat-out excellent except for the amount of games he has started and the amount of innings he’s pitched. Those are big problems as he’s struggled with a large deal of injuries over the past couple of years ranging from chronic inner ear infections to hamstring soreness to a tear in the tissue surrounding his middle finger. In between all of those issues, he has also struggled with a bit of shoulder tendinitis.
These are all pretty serious injuries and anyone willing to take a risk on him could either get a Cy Young caliber pitcher or a guy that breaks apart season after season. Because of the numbers he is capable of putting up during a full year, he’ll probably be able to command a large salary. He has had a history of performing miraculously during contract years (2.70 ERA in 2004) and looks to be doing the same thing this year.
This is a gamble that a lot of GMs may be willing to take but the Red Sox have Justin Masterson, Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden all performing wonderfully. Add Charlie Zink to that impressive list of young pitching (2.33 ERA in 96.2IP thus far) and there isn’t an immediate need to bet the house on Ben Sheets.
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