min0 lee

Mets add a big bat, agree to sign veteran slugger Gary Sheffield
Mets add a big bat, agree to sign veteran slugger Gary Sheffield

BY IAN BEGLEY AND PETER BOTTE
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS

Friday, April 3rd 2009, 4:11 PM

Gary Sheffield is back in the Big Apple.

The Mets have agreed Friday afternoon to sign Sheffield, who was released on Tuesday by the Tigers.

Detroit still owes Sheffield $14 million for this season, so the Mets are only obligated to pay him the major-league minumun of $400,000.

The Daily News first reported in Friday's editions that the Mets were going to "discuss" addding the 40-year-old slugger with 499 career home runs.

Now that those discussions have turned into a reality, Sheffield will likely take playing time away from either Dan Murphy or Ryan Church. But neither corner outfielder seemed upset over Sheffield's arrival Friday afternoon.

"He's more than welcome," Church said. "He's a great player and he'd just another piece for us. I can't control what they do, I just have to always be ready to play every day."

Murphy added: "We're here to win a World Series. If the orgranization and Omar (Minaya) think he's going to help, let's go get him."
Slugger Carlos Delgado said a healthy Sheffield can "definitely" help the Mets.

"This is a guy who's had a great career," Delgado said. "He's one home run away from 500. If he's healthy he's going to be an asset."

Sheffield hit just .225 with 19 homers and 57 RBI in 418 at-bats for Detroit last season, but Mets fifth-starter Livan Hernandez said the former Yankee is still a threat at the plate.

"I faced him last year and when he's at home plate you still have to respect him," said Hernandez, who was a teamamate of Sheffield's on the World Champion 1997 Marlins.

IronAddict

Roll out the barrell, look who's back in town!

The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

soxmuscle

I can understand wanting some insurance, but the Mets need to let this Murphy kid play.

Detroit cuts him and eats $14 million in the process to be able to give their younger players more at-bats, the Mets sign him to take away at-bats from their young players.

Maybe I need to change my prediction in the prediction thread...

Age: 20 | Height: 5'7" | Weight: 150 lbs | Penis: 12 inches

min0 lee

Problem is he wants to play full time and if he doesn't get it he can spread cancer to an already fragile team even though they get him on the cheap.
I agree, let the kids play, Maynaya likes getting old player...or average spanish players.

IainDaniel

And yet.... no one will play the Bonds game.

I would take Bonds over Sheffield anyday.

Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

Michael Jordan

IronAddict

Good point. So would I, they're both guilty of the roid contagion!

The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.