Ben Sheets

The proof is in the pudding.

The Ace List

Ben Sheets, the former Milwaukee Brewers' ace, has not filed for free agency this year. He hasn't needed to. For the last year, Sheets, 31, sat on the free agent market, the most notable in-season free agent. Last offseason, the New York Mets and Texas Rangers were in hot pursuit of Sheets.

The Minnesota Twins came into this offseason with three major goals:

1) Sign Joe Mauer to an extension
2) Improve the infield
3) Add at least one veteran arm to the rotation

General manager Bill Smith got off to a quick start on his offseason “to do list” by acquiring shortstop J.J.

Expectations for the 2009 season were sky-high for the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite the departure of CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, many felt the Brewers would still compete for a playoff spot after successfully making the playoffs in 2008.

Unfortunately, the starting rotation assembled my Brewers GM Doug Melvin didn't perform up to expectations. The team fell on hard times due to injury and ineffectiveness, and the team slipped to third in the division with an 80-82 record.

In the first installment of looking at pitching options for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010, we took a look at Erik Bedard .

Injury-prone lefties may be popular this offseason, as Mark Mulder will be looking for employment as well. The Brewers may be near the top of his list of possible destinations, and Milwaukee should have equal interest in the former two-time All-Star.

The Milwaukee Brewers are in desperate need of starting pitching help. Ben Sheets is in desperate need of a team for the 2010 season. Are the two a perfect fit for a reunion or a couple that would be best served to stay separated?

Ben Sheets has had high expectations his entire career, and when healthy, he has lived up to those expectations quite well.

Sheets was the first round pick of the Brewers in the 1999 draft. It didn't take long before fans were expecting him to be the new "ace" of the Brewers' rotation.

In the MLB you need starting pitchers to go deep into the game so you don't have to use the bullpen that much. Also you need a good offensive attack. Well the Brewers have the offense, just not the starting pitching.

If you look at last year's pitching we had Ben Sheets and a late trade to acquire stud CC Sabathia. 

Not even a month ago, the Rangers and free agent pitcher Ben Sheets seemed to have ironed out a preliminary two-year contract.

Things quickly fell through when doctors performing Sheets’ physical determined that he needed to have surgery on his right elbow.

The contract was thrown out, Sheets went on to have the surgery, the Milwaukee Brewers were responsible for the bill (the last team Sheets played for,) and the Rangers went on to spring training with the pitching staff they have.