Papers abuzz with Ben Sheets and Andy Pettitte rumors

The Sunday papers are filled with column and articles making the case for the Mets and Ben Sheets (and Andy Pettitte too.)

John Harper thinks Sheets and the Mets should happen:

If they're going to try and win a championship with a pitching-dominant formula, then they need to think hard about signing Ben Sheets.
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The righthander, who turns 31 in July, was 13-8 with a 3.08 ERA last season, and was mostly injury-free until injuring a flexor tendon in his elbow in September that rendered him ineffective late in the season and sidelined him for the Brewers' playoff series with the Phillies.

Still, Sheets did throw 198 innings last season, four more than Perez, and consistently flashed the combination of mid-90s fastball and killer curve that make him one of the best pitchers in baseball when healthy.

I agree with Harper. When healthy, he's one of the best. The Mets need to take a chance here and sign Sheets if they want to compete in 2009.

David Lennon confirms that Sheets is and Pettitte is not on the Mets radar:

Two of the most intriguing names still available are Ben Sheets and Andy Pettitte, with the Mets only recently showing interest in the former Brewers ace. A person familiar with the situation said yesterday that Sheets is now being discussed, but it's unclear what the parameters of such a deal would be.

The oft-injured Sheets is a calculated risk, and in this market, so late in the offseason, he could wind up being a relative bargain. As for Pettitte, a person familiar with the club's thinking said the Mets are not involved with the former Yankee.

At least Minaya remembers there are other pitchers besides Oliver Perez. I think I would actually prefer these two pitchers over Perez.

Finally, the reason to sign Sheets may not be to just get him on the Mets' staff, but rather to keep him out of the Phillies hands. From Boston.com:

2. Ben Sheets, RHP, free agent: While Texas appears to be considering Sheets, don't be shocked if Philadelphia has interest as well. The Phillies have been arbitration-strapped, with a huge outlay likely headed Ryan Howard's way. The Phillies are trying to find a way to get someone of Sheets's caliber on their staff.

Minaya, please sign Sheets, just so the Mets don't have to face him five times a year.

Too much talk, not enough doing. It's been a good off-season so far, but the Mets need to make a few more splashes before they're ready for 2009.