Update 1/13 08:27am: Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com says that Ben Sheets is not going to the Cubs at a discount, so the signing with the Cubs appears remote.  Sheets wants $7-8 million, which is more than what the Cubs want to pay.

1/12: According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Cubs plan to make a run at free-agent pitcher Ben Sheets.

General manager, Jim Hendry declined to comment, but he spoke to Sheets’ agent at the baseball Winter Meetings last month.  The Cubs are one of Sheet’s preferred teams.

Sheets has been asking for a two-year deal between $10-12 million per year, but the Cubs believe they can get him with an incentive-laden deal.

Sheets, 31, did not pitch in 2009 due to a torn flexor tendon.  He was 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 198 1/3 innings for the Brewers in 2008.   Other teams that have been interested in Sheets during the off-season include the Texas Rangers, New York Mets and New York Yankees.

You can see Ben Sheets’ statistics here.