"The Milwaukee Brewers were mum Friday on the subject of who will pay for free-agent right-hander Ben Sheets' elbow surgery.

"The only resolution we have is that we're not going to comment on the situation," assistant general manager Gord Ash said.

"We're referring everything to (Sheets' agent) Casey Close. It's up to him to say anything about it."

Following his practice, Close did not return a telephone call from the Journal Sentinel seeking comment.

Sheets was pitching for the Brewers when he tore the flexor tendon near his right elbow toward the end of the 2008 season. The medical opinion at the time was that the injury would heal with rest and rehabilitation.

When Sheets decided to have surgery after receiving no offers on the free-agent market that he deemed appropriate, the Brewers were contacted about picking up the tab. Because they had no idea whether Sheets aggravated the condition after becoming a free agent, the Brewers were not inclined to pay, resulting in discussions among the parties and MLB officials."