Elbow Injury Knocks Ben Sheets Out For 2010 And At Least Much Of 2011

Ben Sheets Out For Season - And Longer - With Torn Flexor Tendon In Elbow

When Ben Sheets landed on the DL, his stock as a trade candidate fell through the floor. This, though - this is worse.

I've had it confirmed: Sheets needs a second flexor tendon surgery, what he'd said he was worried about last week. #Athletics

The same procedure already cost Sheets his entire 2009 the first time around when he went under the knife in February. This time, the absolute best-case scenario would be a return something like halfway through the 2011 season, but chances are it would take longer than that for him to come back, and there are already whispers that this could be a career-ender. It's just the latest awful, unfortunate break in the very troubled career of a very talented pitcher.

Adds Susan Slusser:

Since Sheets will be a free agent, he'll have to try to find a job again coming off another flexor tendon surgery. That's rough.

Elbow Injury Sends Ben Sheets To Disabled List

Last Monday, Oakland starter Ben Sheets limited the Red Sox to two runs in 6.2 innings in what was ultimately a losing effort. If things seemed okay at the time, though, they are now very much not, as Sheets has gone an scared up some trouble in his elbow:

Athletics right-hander Ben Sheets has re-injured his troubled elbow, CBSSports.com has learned.

At the very least, Sheets will be placed on the 15-day disabled list. But a source close to Sheets says there is very real concern that the elbow has blown out again and that he is finished for the season.

Sheets has indeed since been placed on the DL. It seems he told Billy Beane he'd actually like to pitch this Sunday, which would seem to suggest he's not feeling too bad, but then given Sheets' history and the concern over this incident, it would appear that the situation is a little more serious than Sheets is letting on. If he was a moderately attractive trade commodity before, that's now shot, as nobody's going to want to pay for a guy who may not start a game.

For more, check out Athletics Nation. Sheets hasn't been pitching too terribly well anyway, but if nothing else, this does take away one talking point in the lead-up to the deadline.