OAKLAND, Calif.: Once Billy Beane received positive word on Ben Sheets’ throwing session last week, the Oakland general manager pounced.
The pitcher’s agent had an impressive offer in hand from the Athletics practically by the time Sheets was done icing down his arm afterward. It was merely an hour later. Oakland took a mighty gamble Tuesday on Sheets, agreeing to terms with the free-agent righty on a $10 million, one-year contract only 11 months after he underwent elbow surgery that sidelined him all of last season.
A four-time All-Star, the 31-year-old Sheets becomes the team’s second-highest paid player behind six-time Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez. “We were either going to get him with what we had or we weren’t, and we had to be aggressive about it,” Beane said.
Manager Bob Geren immediately called Sheets his ace and opening-day starter.
When Sheets repeatedly hit 92 mph on the radar gun pitching for a big audience at his alma mater in Louisiana, taking a shot on him seemed like a no-brainer for Beane and his typically small-spending franchise.
“This is where I wanted to be. I’m glad they welcomed me with open arms,” Sheets said, wearing a new green A’s cap when formally introduced at the Coliseum
