Mets going after Ben Sheets and John Smoltz

For a team that has had such a backlash due to injuries last year, you would think the Mets wouldn't pursue someone who has been injury prone his entire career. Chances are if they sign him, the first time he is injuried, he would be chewed up and spit out by the NY media and fans. So I'm not sure if it is a good idea for them to go after him. Then again Smoltz is a washed up pitcher as well and the Mets are going after him as he is their savior too.

In addition, if Sheets signs with the Mets, the Brewers would get their second-round pick next June, not their first. The Mets already have surrendered their first-round pick to the Angels for signing closer Francisco Rodriguez. Sheets' ranking among Class A pitchers is 79.038; Rodriguez's is 87.196. Thus, because Rodriguez is ranked higher, the Angels would get the Mets' first-round pick, not the Brewers. That's the way the system works. 

That would mean that the Brewers would get only second-round picks from the signing clubs for both CC Sabathia (Yankees) and Sheets, not exactly what they had in mind when those Class A free agents hit the market. The Brewers still get sandwich picks between the first and second rounds as well but it wouldn't be the first-round bonanza anticipated at the outset of the winter.

Sheets' situation remains perhaps the most intriguing of any free agent because of economic cutbacks, his history of injuries and his Class A status. Any team signing him -- including the Brewers -- would be taking a calculated gamble.