Right-hander Ben Sheets, whose free-agent market dried up due to health concerns, had surgery on his pitching elbow on Tuesday, according to a FOXSports.com report.

Dr. James Andrews performed the successful surgery in Birmingham, Ala., repairing a partial tear in the pitcher's flexor tendon. The surgery is identical to the one Andrews performed on left-hander Andy Pettitte in 2004. Pettitte has logged 200-plus innings in every season since.

Sheets said that he is targeting his comeback for after the All-Star break and should be able to adhere to that timetable if he doesn't suffer any rehab setbacks.

The former Brewers ace's most serious suitor was the Texas Rangers, who actually had a two-year deal with him until his obligatory physical raised questions about the condition of the elbow. Talks of restructuring the deal were scrapped and Sheets opted for surgery.

"I think [the Rangers] have a good team. I was excited by the prospect of being near home," the Texas native Sheets told FOXSports.com. "I can't say I ever felt great about doing that deal. But I felt for both sides it might have worked. They didn't feel the risk was worth it. They've got a right to feel that way. I wasn't mad either way."

MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan and Adam McCalvy broke the news of Sheets' impending physical on Feb. 5.