MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone transcribes some comments from SI.com’s Tom Verducci, and also provides his own insight into Ben Sheets‘ possible demands. The Mets like him, but they want to do a heavily incentive-based deal similar to Brad Penny‘s. Sheets, having had a much better season than Penny, is apparently seeking two years and $18MM or so with a third-year option.
I’m surprised Sheets would want to lock himself in for multiple years given the down market. If he’s confident in his health, a straight one-year deal could be best. Sheets did already turn down such an offer from the Brewers (their offer of arbitration), but that was back on December 7th.