Gary Sheffield to the Yankees
 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1674675

Sunday, November 30, 2003

ESPN.com

Gary Sheffield has decided to accept the Yankees' three-year contract offer for between $36 million and $38 million, sources close to the free-agent outfielder have told ESPN's Peter Gammons.


Sheffield did not finalize details of the deal with George Steinbrenner on Saturday; the Yankees principal owner was at a Tampa, Fla., hospital with longtime Yankee assistant Billy Connors, who suffered a heart attack Friday and underwent quadruple bypass surgery. But Sheffield has told friends the deal is done, Gammons reports.


It was initially reported that Sheffield wanted more money from the Yankees and that he was even considering re-signing with the Braves.


The Yankees moved quickly in the wake of Curt Schilling agreeing to accept a trade to Boston. They're also active in the market on other fronts:



The Yankees are close to a two year, $7 million deal with reliever Tom Gordon that is expected to be announced soon, a source told Gammons.


Yankees officials declined comment on the Gordon negotiations, but weekend discussions between the club and agent Rick Thurman were described to ESPN as "intense."


Meanwhile, it was believed that Gordon would wait until free-agent reliever Keith Foulke decides between the Athletics and Red Sox to make a decision, since Gordon and Eddie Guardado are Boston's backup plan.



The Yankees also are interested in free-agent outfielder Kenny Lofton, although sources have told Gammons that no formal offer has been made to Lofton's agent, Casey Close.


Sheffield, 35, has played for the Brewers, Padres, Marlins, Dodgers and Braves during a productive, albeit sometimes stormy career. With the Braves last season, he hit .330 with 39 homers, 132 RBI and 18 stolen bases.


Dwight Gooden, Sheffield's uncle and a former Yankees pitcher, helped convince the All-Star to seriously consider the Yankees.


The Yankees are looking for a corner outfielder to go with regulars Hideki Matsui and Bernie Williams. Last season, after they traded Raul Mondesi to Arizona, the Yankees used Karim Garcia, Juan Rivera, David Dellucci and Ruben Sierra in right field, with mixed results.

This is going to be an interesting offseason. There are alot of big names out there - and alot of second tier guys that can make a big difference.

As the Sheffields and Schillings drop off the list, the others will fall into place. The elite always settle first, then the next tier, etc.

Nice move for George here. Sheffield should have no problems in New York.

wow. never thought this would actually happen though.

The Yankees will score about 7 runs a game next year. With their current staff, they'll give up about 8.

I heard that they already have a bid in for Tom Gordon out of the bullpen, but they desperately need another starter---and that's with the assumption that they'll do whatever it takes to keep Pettitte.

Sheffield is a great add, but they really really do need to retain Pettitte. They should have a great offense next year. There has been quiet talk of trading for A-Rod and moving Jete to 3rd, and maybe trading Soriano, maybe replacing him with Castillo...whatever happens, they'll be the team to watch again. Offseasons in NY are always interesting...

Sheffield has a history of disappeariing in the playoffs right? Yankees have right field locked up for the next 3 years at least.

Well, at least Guerrero is now basically on a one-way trip to Baltimore.

He falls apart in the playoffs? Sounds like he will fit in real well in New York.

I am a Yankee fan and not really thrilled about the signing. I would have preferred Vlad, but they do not want to sign him to a long term deal.

I also hear they do not want Colon, well some of the "experts" don't. If they trade Soriano because of one bad year, I will be pissed.

At least for the moment now, the Sox and Yankees are tied up 1-1 in the head case department. Hopefully Theo can move Manny and the Yankees will be all by their lonesome in the head case race.

You don't think Pedro can be thrown into the headcase category? I sure do. I will admit that Shef has had his problems, but there were none with the Braves.

Players can change. Hell, Shilling is one of the most demanding players any team has ever seen. The Red Sox are going to have to hire three or four extra employees just for him.

I don't remember Sheffield complaining too much in Atlanta. Maybe he's matured. Maybe everyone else whines so much that his bitching isn't noticed as much.

So long Sheffield. As a Braves fan, I will be glad that I will not have to see him "wacking his bat" every time he is at the plate. Sheffield came to Atlanta ( after being paid BIG BUCKS ) specifically to make things happen in the playoffs. But he was a bigger bust than a 38DD blonde. Now Steinbrenner will have to shell out the big bucks to a player who did not care where he went, as long as they paid the most $.

Yeah, Sheffield is the reason the Braves choked in the postseason. They never did that before he got there right? Try looking at Chipper and the pitchers first. Sheff has his rang and played great for Florida when he was on that team.

Sheff has also tried to become a Yankee more than once, so I am not sure he is just going anywhere. That said, this deal is not 100% done. The Yanks are not going to bid against themselves and the final number is way down.

I did read that they are trying to trade Weaver for Kevin Brown. That would be interesting if Bron can stay healthy. Not sure he can do that though.

i don't know anymore.

I think he played great while at Atlanta, They'll definitely miss him

He will be missed in Atlanta.

And no, he is not to blame for the poor preformance during the playoff's. The entire team didn't show up. Sheffield is a good player, and I bet he'll play well for the Yankees.

Sheffield sold out the biggest asshole in baseball (Steinbrenner)

Now, according to all the NYC papers, the deal might be in pieces after Sheffield decided to tell Steinbrenner he wants more money than they agreed upon.

Supposedly, all of his friends and family are asking him what he's doing trying to screw around like this. There isn't another team outt there (remember, Atlanta can't talk a contract with him until May 1st) who will give him 3 years at 13 million per.

I don't get exactly what he's getting at here, but the Yankees made an offer to Vladimir Guerrero last night, matching the one to Sheffield. It ain't gonna get it done, but it's a start if Sheffield DOES walk away.

It would be hillarious if Sheffield wound up in Boston.
Note : I dislike Boston

goddamn i fucking hate the yankees!!!!! always have always will

You actually believe an NYC paper?

That's hilarious.

why should you not believe a NY paper? One Op Ed guy at the times lied, but other than that...what is there not to beleive. By the way, this has been reported in many papers and news outlets, although I have never seen where the Yanks have made any offer to Vlad, so I would need a link before believing it.

He means that New York sports sections are always guilty of, if not making up rumors, then stretching the rumors out there well past the point where they are no longer reality.

That is every sports section. The Washington Post recently talked about a conspiracy where the orioles are getting Vlad (the Expos did not offer arbitration) as a way to buy Angelos' vote when the next Expos to DC vote comes up.

lol haha.. well updating..

Sheff will be a yank as SHeffy got scared of VAld :D

Brown and Lofton will also be a yankee... if Brown stays healthy, he'll can become an ace, like he carried the Marlins to their first WS.

Lofton... meh..