Ben Sheets sat out all of the 2009 season after having surgery on his right elbow and on Tuesday agreed to a 1-year/$8 million deal with the A’s.  Sheets is always in the near-elite to elite member of pitchers in the Majors but never have the benefit of being on a good team except in 2008 when the Brewers made the playoffs.  Sheets has an 86-83 career record but is regarded as an ace, most aces have better than a .509 winning percentage.  Sheets will overpower his opponents with his fastball but also have wicked + secondary pitches.  From 2005-2007 Sheets didn’t make more than 24 starts and then in 2008 made 31 but the following year didn’t pitch a game.

He will definitely help the A’s and their pitching staff but the A’s pitching isn’t the weakest part of their team.  They generate now offense, especially after Holliday left them at the trade deadline last year.  When Sheets had the option to sign anywhere I don’t know why he chose the A’s.  I understand his asking price was bit steep at $8 million for one-year but if he lowered his price to about $5 million GOOD teams would actually have wanted to sign Sheets and he could finally prove that he is a great pitcher in this league.

Grade for the A’s: B; They invested $8 million and just one year into their ace of the staff, not bad.  I understand he may not be his normal self after having elbow surgery but he wasn’t locked up and won’t be burden to future payroll.  I expect a 12-8 record for Sheets this year in about 28 games started.