A win for Big Ben, the kind he could get without pulling something or causing excessive wear to the medical dictionary in the search to identify his latest health curiosity.

A win for the Milwaukee Brewers , who could free their thoughts of habitual rotation patchwork with the bonus of two high-round draft picks.

And a win for those who decided once Sheets had presumably pulled his final disappearing act while drawing a Mark Attanasio-endorsed check that the Brewers didn't need such unreliability back at any price.

Of course, it's entirely possible that Sheets' undeniable talent will emerge injury-free elsewhere and realize its 18-victory potential. That would constitute a rebirth of Brewers Luck after it apparently had a stake driven through its dark heart in October. Tempting it, though, would be best for all concerned: a fresh start for Sheets and the chance for the franchise to further distinguish itself through the draft.

And if the Brewers were certain of Sheets' departure instead of the possibility of an uneasy one-year marriage of convenience next season at the dowry of about $14 million, they could go to the winter meetings next week with a better sense of what must be done with a roster subject to considerable turnover.

It's possible Sheets could bounce back to the Brewers were no one willing to surrender two high picks or if the economy has a significant drag on the non-premium free agents, but it's more likely someone would take a two-year flier on the chance of Sheets staying healthy. The Brewers would then have a better idea of how to patch two holes in the rotation.

If the San Francisco Giants are serious about CC Sabathia, game over. He could pitch at home and hit. Even if the Giants could not justify Sabathia and Barry Zito's bad paper, it's hard to believe the union would allow Sabathia to leave $40 million worth of New York Yankees money on the table. Either way, the Brewers have to go to Las Vegas assuming CC is as gone as all those coins in the quarter slots.

While it's difficult to see anything really big happening before Sabathia, Manny Ramirez and Mark Teixeira land, the Brewers might be in a better position to know what it will take to rearrange their rotation. Trading Mike Cameron is a possibility for a small return. Prince Fielder would fetch a somewhat larger yield, although the relatively minor concern of whom to plug in at first base would be greatly overshadowed by who would protect Ryan Braun in the batting order.

These are issues to consider for the winter meetings and beyond, because the big-picture stuff is dependent on the signings at the top of the free-agent food chain that might not happen anytime soon. In the meantime, the Brewers have begun refilling the bullpen with Jorge Julio, a Doug Melvin Special if there ever was one.

As for Sheets, there was a price point at which you'd want him back on a one-year deal, but $14 million wasn't necessarily it as long as Jeff Suppan remains at the bottom of the rotation for not a whole lot less. Better off in the long run with the draft picks, the Brewers should be ready for someone else to assume the risk.

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