Update 11:09am: According to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, Sheet’s contract is for $10 million plus performance bonuses.

He later said that the Rangers never made an offer and he doubts the Mets got anywhere near $10 million.

1/26 10:05 am: The Oakland Athletics have signed free agent pitcher Ben Sheets to a one-year contract worth more than $8 million. He passed his physical and the deal is expected to be announced at 1pm PST today. The Oakland Athletics have called a press conference at that time.

Mychael Urban of CSN Bay Area reported earlier today that the Oakland Athletics’ offer is well within the range of Sheets asking price of $8-9 million. According to Urban’s source, Oakland is “absolutely” in that range.

Oakland is an ideal location Sheets because the Oakland Coliseum is a pitcher friendly park that will allow Sheets to post good numbers that will allow him to be one of the top free-agent pitchers next winter. If the Athletics are not in playoff contention come July, Oakland’s GM Billy Beane could trade him for top young talent to a contending team.

Urban gave us a little hint last week that the A’s were going to do something good.

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.

You can see Ben Sheets’ statistics here.