Now that the Yankees have re-signed Andy Pettitte to a one year deal worth $5.5 million plus incentives, Ben Sheets is in a bad spot. He just lost the last big money team that had any interest in him that could spend big without hesitation. Sheets is coming off a good season that ended with an injury. The injury cost him tens of millions of dollars. Fact is, Sheets has been more solid, productive, and healthy than A.J. Burnett. However, Burnett ended strong and scored a contract over $80 million dollars. Sheets's injury is the first thought on ever owner and manager's mind. Consequently, he is viewed in a negative light.
I have talked about my affininty for Oliver Perez. Also, I have thrown it out there that I would love to see Perez and Sheets both signed. With no known suitors for Sheets except for a leary Texas Ranger team, now is the time to swoop in and grab them both. Sources seem to believe that no one wants to give Sheets a guaranteed second year. I say go for it. Give him a second year and even an incentive based third year. $18-20 million over two years and an option worth an additional year at $12 million with a buyout for $2 million. Affordable by today's market for an ace, and short if it goes bad due to injury.
Combine the offer for Sheets at $20 million with an offer to Perez for roughly $33 million (which the revised offer is reportedly close to) and you have Perez and Sheets for a total of about $53 million. That's about $30 million cheaper than Burnett's deal and about $108 million cheaper than C.C. Sabathia's. I love those numbers as a Mets fan, as well as the two arms. If healthy, Sheets is a 1-2 starter and Perez is a strong 3. It just makes sense for them and is not far-fetched.
In fact, I would go so far as to sign Sheets first and put some pressure on Oliver Perez. With a short list of suitors himself, Perez might be quicker to sign a strong, fair three year deal before he ends up with one year offers like Garland, Wolf, and some others are being offered.
Comments