Sheets, in researching other pitchers who tried to fight through the same problem, said he learned that many lasted only 50 to 100 innings before shutting down.

He said he was troubled by the prospect of battling through games and pitching at less than his best. After he started his off-season throwing program, his discomfort returned.

"It was feeling better — not all the way better, but I was making improvements," Sheets said. "I thought I was getting over the hump. But the same thing came back.

"When you start throwing, everything changes. I could just feel I wasn't recovering. It was identical to the thing I had at end of the year."

Sheets, the starting pitcher for the National League in last year's All-Star Game, worked 198 1/3 innings last season. His injury, however, limited him to 4 1/3 innings after Sept. 11 and prevented him from pitching in the postseason.

Right-hander A.J. Burnett, a pitcher with comparable career statistics, signed a five-year, $82.5 million free-agent contract with the Yankees in December. Burnett finished the season healthy. Sheets did not.

Sheets said that he could have landed a one-year contract with shared risk, but did not believe such a deal would have been fair to either side. He said he was not willing to sell himself short, and felt uncomfortable that a team would be getting him at less than 100 percent.

The Brewers offered him salary arbitration in December, but Sheets said he did not seriously consider accepting, even though he almost certainly would have received a raise from his $11 million salary in 2008 on a one-year, non-guaranteed contract.

"I had eight great years in Milwaukee," he said. "We went from losing 106 games to going to the playoffs. For me, I just felt it was time to move on. I don't regret it."

The Brewers, by offering Sheets arbitration, sought to preserve their rights to a high draft pick plus a supplemental pick between the first and second rounds if he signed with another club.

Instead, they will get nothing.

Draft-pick compensation is eliminated for free agents who sign after the June amateur draft. Sheets will postpone his decision accordingly, knowing he will be unable to pitch before then.

"I feel like I'm taking a big chance, but it was one I was willing to take," Sheets said. "I think there is a huge opportunity out there to be had. I truly believe I'll be back by the end of the year, be healthy and help somebody win."