"Veteran right-hander Ben Sheets has rejoined the A's for the remainder of their current trip, 2½ weeks removed from right elbow surgery that's put his pitching career in jeopardy.

Sheets went into his Aug. 9 procedure believing he'd simply need the flexor tendon in his elbow repaired. It turned out he also required a ligament replacement (Tommy John surgery) and repair work to his pronator tendon.

That was OK with Sheets, who said his triple procedure has no bearing on his time frame for recovery. He figures to be sidelined the entire 2011 season and knows there's no guarantee he'll pitch again.

"If my arm heals and feels great, I'm going to give it a shot. But that's up in the air, it really is," he said.

Sheets made his last start July 19 against the Los Angeles Angels, but he says he knew something was wrong with his elbow as early as his June 2 start at Boston. He particularly remembers laboring during an at-bat that ended with a David Ortiz home run.

"That whole at-bat, I remember it being a grind," he said. "I didn't want to throw any breaking balls. I just wanted to throw fastballs."

He had been rehabbing at home in Louisiana but also said he'll spend as much time as possible with the A's.

"I'm sure my family thinks it's good," he quipped. "I get on my own nerves.""