According to Matt Pignataro from Seven Train to Shea, the Rangers are set to make a very strong push to sign Sheets.

Pignataro points out that Sheets’s pitching coach from Milwaukee, Mike Maddux, is now the pitching coach for the Rangers; Maddux was also in attendance for Sheets’s audition last Tuesday.

In his opinion, “It seems more and more likely that the Rangers are the favorites to land Sheets, at this point and time.”

The Rangers and Sheets reached agreement on a two-year deal last off season. However, as MLB.com wrote at the time, “Everything changed once it was determined that Sheets had a torn flexor tendon that might require surgery.”

…i trust pignataro, specifically when it comes to the Rangers, since, from what i can gather, he has strong contacts in their organization…

…in talking with people around the league today, most people told me they expect sheets to try and get a big-time deal, all in his favor, though he has a list of teams he would prefer to sign with…

…here’s the thing with sheets, though, from what i understand, he wants a player-option for 2011… if this is the case, for him to pick up that option, it probably will mean he had a bad 2010, or he was injured again… that said, if he has a terrific year, he’ll probably opt out and hit free agency in search of a long-term deal… and so, that’s actually a pretty crappy deal for the team in 2010… i mean, it makes perfect sense for him, but to make it fair he cannot demand more than, say, $7.5 million in guaranteed salary… however, i believe he’s seeking around $10 million, plus incentives…

By the way, according to Tim Brown from Yahoo! Sports, though the Dodgers are still looking for a starting pitcher, they won’t bid heavily on Sheets.
MetsBlog.com – Buzz: Rangers set Sights on Ben Sheets