From: HTP on
On Dec 29 2009, 12:21 pm, eddyg...(a)msn.com (john smith) wrote:
> I hear Sheets is looking for 12 million a year but nobody wants to risk
> signing him. I feel he might be worth the gamble as the guy when healthy
> brings legit # 1 stuff to the table. The Reds haven't had a legitimate
> #1 starter since Jose Rijo and that's a long time...
>
> This organization owes something to its fans. We are fed up with the
> signings of guys like Taveras. Why don't they ever take a reasonable
> chance on a  potential star....
>
> If they can get rid of Harang and replace him with Sheets they will be a
> much better team in 2010.....Barring Sheets potential bad health of
> course...I would take this gamble. The Braves have made a lot of moves
> that can blow up in their face. The Reds should be willing to take one
> risk...

John fay reporting that the Reds are among the teams "scouting" Ben
Sheets, and that he's looking for 7.5 mil or so. Aint gonna happen
with this team unless we move a big contract.
From: John Kasupski on
On Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:05:12 -0800 (PST), HTP <tmbowman25(a)yahoo.com> wrote:


>John fay reporting that the Reds are among the teams "scouting" Ben
>Sheets, and that he's looking for 7.5 mil or so. Aint gonna happen
>with this team unless we move a big contract.

My guess would be that if nobody else signs him first, the Reds might eventually
offer him the ol' minor league contract with ST invite, and are scouting him to
see if they think even that's worthwhile. Which, I'd be fine with minor league
contract/ST invite, though I dunno if Sheets woul be - maybe, if there's nobody
biting on a MLB contract because of his injury history.

JK

From: JustTom on
On Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:05:12 -0800 (PST), HTP <tmbowman25(a)yahoo.com>
wrote:
>
>John fay reporting that the Reds are among the teams "scouting" Ben
>Sheets, and that he's looking for 7.5 mil or so. Aint gonna happen
>with this team unless we move a big contract.

$7.5M is still crazy talk IMO, but there's likely some sucker that'll
do it.

If I could, I'd offer a low base, a million or two, and then heavy
load incentives that he could reach if he stays healthy.

Since it's hard sell to convince a guy to come to GABP on a one year
deal who's primary purpose is to produce numbers to earn a long term
deal, I'd blow him away (and the competition) on the incentives,
making the deal to come to cinci worth even more than the $7.5M he's
asking. Make the package worth $8 - $10M if he performs as he can
when healthy. If he does, then we've paid fair market for
performance, if not, then we're only out the cost of doing business.
If he decides to take $6M guaranteed from somebody else over the
gamble of more from us, then I couldn't complain we didn't try.

I'd then install him as 5th starter, and basically rest/rehab/baby him
for the first month until we start needing the 5th guy.

If he performs well and we're in it at ASB, then cool, he's earned his
pay and FO looks stellar. If he performs well, but we're in our
usual division seat, then we can flip him for a decent prospect or
two, and likely give Chapman his starts and FO still looks good.

If he tanks or gets hurt again, then Chapman probably moves in. In
any instance, having someone in that slot to remove the temptation to
bring on the phenom too early is a good thing IMO. $10M may seem like
a big expense for a team not likely to contend, but if it insulates
against rushing the $30M jewel, I'm in. And a name like Sheets
holding that slot is likely to quell the mobs (and the owner) much
longer than the Maloneys or some NRI to ST.