Is Ben Sheets This Year's Biggest Bargain?

Buster Olney of ESPN Magazine, makes a forceful case for Ben Sheets being this year's biggest bargain. And I tend to agree with him.

Olney is quick to point out several contracts in the not so distant past, or as he puts it, "days of economic bliss", which might leave Sheets green with envy.

• Carlos Silva a four-year, $48 million deal
• Miguel Batista got $25 million over three years
• Jeff Suppan signed a four-year, $42 million contract
• Jarrod Washburn received a four-year, $37.5 million deal.

Wow! Suppan's contract must be a tough one for Sheets to swallow. Let's see, Sheets was the Ace of that staff, right? By most estimates, Sheets won't be getting an offer for half of Suppan's.

Here's what Olney had to say:

Over the past five seasons, the 30-year-old Sheets has an ERA of 3.24; his ERA has never been higher than 3.82 in any season, and was as low as 2.70 in 2004. His strikeout-walk ratio has never been worse than 2.87-1. Hitters have never had an OPS against him, in any season, higher than .705. When he has pitched, he's been significantly better than Silva, Batista and Suppan.

Think about that: In 2008, Sheets made 31 starts, threw 198 1/3 innings, posted an ERA of 3.09 while pitching in Milwaukee's bandbox, held opposing hitters to a .390 slugging percentage, started for the National League in the All-Star Game, struck out 158 while walking just 47 -- and in an industry that provided a $48 million deal for an innings-eater like Silva just 13 months ago, Sheets might be looking at a deal for less than half of that.

Omar, wake up and smell the Bostello Cafe!!!