As if that news weren't bad enough, the Brewers also might have to pick up the tab for the free-agent right-hander's medical expenses. With the club in a precarious and delicate situation, assistant general manager Gord Ash was careful with his words.

"I can't answer any questions at this time because we don't have the answers yet," said Ash, who oversees the team's medical program. "We're in the process of trying to get the answers.

"Obviously, we're in an awkward situation."

The possibility of surgery, first reported by Major League Baseball's Web site, apparently arose after Sheets reached agreement on the parameters of a two-year deal with the Texas Rangers. The proposal was contingent on Sheets passing the requisite physical examination, which became an issue because of his elbow.

Sheets, 30, suffered a torn flexor tendon near the elbow late last season, limiting him to two abbreviated starts over the final 2? weeks and shelving him for the Brewers' playoff series against Philadelphia. At the time, the medical opinion was that the injury would heal with rest and rehabilitation.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels wouldn't confirm that a tentative deal was in place but told ESPN.com, "It's no secret we've had interest in Ben, and we remain interested, under the right circumstances. But as far as his medical situation is concerned, we have no comment."

Sheets' agent, Casey Close, did not return a telephone call from the Journal Sentinel. But Sports Illustrated's Web site reported that Close said Sheets would have surgery with hopes of returning sometime in the second half of the 2009 season.

After failing to receive offers reflective of his talent level, Sheets decided, "I'm just going to get this fixed," Close told SI.com.

"With 10 or 12 starts, he's going to be in pretty good shape," added Close, referring to the free-agent market next winter.

Ash said he had not been informed by Close that Sheets had decided to go ahead with surgery.

"They don't have to tell us," Ash said. "That's why we're trying to gather information and work out the details."

Under Major League Baseball's workman's compensation rules, the Brewers could get stuck with the surgical bill because he played for them at the time of the injury. Club officials heard through the grapevine that Sheets was still having issues that might require surgery, so the news wasn't a total shock.

Even with the surgery, however, there's no guarantee that Sheets will be ready to pitch in the second half of the '09 season. Such procedures often require rehabilitation periods of at least nine months.

Doctors reportedly told Sheets that he might be able to nurse the elbow through the 2009 season without surgery. But he also was told it could blow out completely once he began throwing with maximum effort.

"We're having ongoing discussions with the necessary people," Ash said. "Our read on it at the end of last season was that it would heal with rest and rehabilitation. Now, we're trying to work through it and sort it all out."

If Sheets goes ahead with surgery and doesn't sign with a team until after the all-star break, the Brewers would lose draft-pick compensation for the Class A free agent. Otherwise, they were in line to receive a first- or second-round pick from the signing team as well as a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds.

To keep draft-pick compensation in order, the Brewers offered salary arbitration to Sheets in December. Had he accepted, Sheets would have been considered "signed" for 2009 with a salary to be determined.

Sheets had an $11 million salary last year and would have been in line for a raise after going 13-9 with a 3.09 earned run average in 31 starts. Instead, he opted to explore the market.

Had Sheets accepted the Brewers' offer, it would have been contingent on a physical exam, so the elbow problem could have voided it.

A few teams, including the Yankees, showed preliminary interest in Sheets but that list eventually was whittled down to the Rangers. In early January, the Brewers proposed an incentive-laden deal to Close but again were turned down.

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