A's Sheets to have surgery

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -Athletics right-hander Ben Sheets plans to have surgery soon on his troublesome throwing elbow, something he says will increase the chance he could pitch again if he so decides.

It won't be this season. He has a torn flexor tendon in the elbow that will be repaired in the operation. The same injury forced him to have surgery after the 2008 campaign with the Brewers, then he missed all of 2009. Oakland general manager Billy Beane still took a risk on the four-time All-Star, signing him in January to a $10 million, one-year deal to be the A's ace.

The 32-year-old Sheets was placed on the disabled list last week, his seventh DL stint. A's manager Bob Geren announced Wednesday in Texas that Sheets wouldn't pitch again in 2010 - yet the pitcher announced his decision about having surgery in a conference call Thursday.