Free agent Sheets may need elbow surgery

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Free agent right-hander Ben Sheets could be headed for elbow surgery after contract negotiations with the Texas Rangers fell through because of the injury.

Texas had been discussing a two-year deal with Sheets, the NL starter in the All-Star game last season, a person familiar with the talks said Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A physical revealed that the torn flexor tendon Sheets sustained last season apparently has not healed, the person said.

Sheets struggled with a sore elbow down the stretch last season for Milwaukee and didn't pitch in the playoffs. He said then that he had torn a flexor tendon near his right elbow, but insisted that he just needed to rest his ailing arm during the offseason.

Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash declined to comment Thursday, saying any questions needed to be directed to Sheets' agent, Casey Close.

Ash told MLB.com earlier Thursday that the Brewers had been talking to Close and baseball officials this week about who would pay for an operation. MLB.com first reported that the deal with the Rangers was off and that Milwaukee might have to pay for any surgery.

The 30-year-old Sheets has an 86-83 record and a 3.72 ERA in 221 starts with 1,206 strikeouts and 313 walks over the past eight seasons, all in Milwaukee. He has been an All-Star four times.

Sheets has been on the disabled list five times in the past four seasons. He was on the DL with a sprained middle finger last season, and besides the elbow also was bothered by issues with his biceps, groin and hamstring.

-- AP