Free agent right-hander Ben Sheets has signed with the A’s, CBS Sports.com has learned.
Sheets agreed to terms on a one-year deal for more than $8 million. He passed a physical today, and the deal is expected to be announced this afternoon.
Sheets is a great pickup for the A’s, especially at $8 million (Note: see below; it may have been $10 million). If he pitches well and everything comes together, the A’s can compete. If he pitches well and not everything comes together, he can be dealt for value to a contender at the deadline. If he’s healthy, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him be just as good as John Lackey this year.
And if he has a setback? Well, the A’s weren’t going to do much without him, so not much is lost except a bit of money the A’s had apparently budgeted anyway.
Good signing.
UPDATE: Both Heyman and Olney are reporting that it’s not $8 million. Rather, that it’s $10 million plus bonuses. That last $2 million plus makes this, oh, about $2 million less-good of a deal.