A's make serious offer to Ben Sheets

Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com is reporting that the Athletics are still very much in the bidding for free agent starter Ben Sheets and have made an offer in the range of the 8 million dollars he is seeking.

Sheets is also being courted by the Mets and Dodgers, and it is believed that the Rangers may enter the mix as well. 

Sheets, 31, missed the entire 2009 season recovering from elbow surgery but is expected to be ready to go for Spring Training. His fastball was recently clocked at 91 mph, and if teams believe his secondary pitchers are there (ie. his nasty 12-6 curveball) then he may get he 8 million he is seeking.

The Athletics have a lot of young pitchers, but bringing in a veteran to give some of these guys more time could be more beneficial down the road. Not only that, but this would be nice response to the Mariners and Angels' moves this offseason.