Wilbon and Kornheiser said yesterday that they picked it up to trade him so they could keep him from the Red Sox and Mets. They claim Cashman has gotten a half dozen inquiries already.

Apparently, Sheffield does not have a no-trade clause.

"I won't play first base" and "There'll be trouble if they trade me for one year". Jeez.

I'm not sure, but didn't Sheffield make a big stink LAST offseason about getting this option picked up? Now he wants to be a free agent?

I love it when Yankee players get all snooty. It's so cute.

In which offseason hasn't he made a big stink? it's pretty funny from where I sit.

that said, I'd be 100% behind my team's GM trading for him.

I understand that players take pride in their games, but... at this point in his career, Gary Sheffield would benefit from a move to first base. It could add a couple extra years of eight-figure income, and get him that much closer to the Hall of Fame.

From the Yankee perspective, it seems wasteful to spend $13 million on Sheffield when you have three other high-priced outfielders and what you really need is PITCHING. I see three possibilities:

1. The already discussed trade-bait scenario. I wouldn't trade for an old, demanding, injury-prone player who wants a contract extension. But there are teams willing to take the chance. He'd fit in well with the Orioles, for one.

2. It's a Tampa move, not a Cashman move. It's certainly the type of thing Steinbrenner is wont to do.

3. Captain Jetes will work his magic and convince Sheff to move to 1B for the sake of the team. Rah, rah, rah!

Sheffield may have no contractual rights, but in the past he has been quite able to use his leverage to force trades and pick his destinations.

"I'm not sure, but didn't Sheffield make a big stink LAST offseason about getting this option picked up? Now he wants to be a free agent?"

That was when he still played right field. He (apparently) doesn't like first base, and doesn't want to play there for a full season. He also never wanted to leave New York, so now that it looks like he's going to be traded, he's going to (try to) insist on an extension in return for playing somewhere he doesn't like.

At least, that's my interpretation of this whole thing.

I like Sheffield honestly. He seems to be the only honest ballplayer there is. He tells the truth! He doesn't want to play first, and if he's traded he'll be mad. He may be the only ballplayer that anyone actually knows. Here's the thing, he always plays hard and rocks it!

Johnw said: "From the Yankee perspective, it seems wasteful to spend $13 million on Sheffield when you have three other high-priced outfielders and what you really need is PITCHING."

John, there's a fourth factor you didn't consider. $13 million makes Sheffield a bargain under the new luxury tax guidelines. Since teams can increase their payrolls to the upper $140 Million range without facing luxury tax penalties, the contracts will flow like a rushing river this off-season. A player of Sheffield's caliber - that is, .300/.400/.500 with 30+ HR potential and 100+ RBI - will be more in line to draw in $15-16 million, I would think.

Right now, the stories out of NY are that teams are interested in acquiring him as this seemingly discounted rate. If the Yanks pick up his option, they can trade him and his entire bargain contract for what they need which, in this case, is pitching.

I'm not going to argue that Sheffield's not a great hitter. I'd point out, though, that he's 38 years old and coming off a major wrist injury. I'm not sure how much that devalues him, exactly...but depending on how healthy he is, $13 million may not be a discount.

And given that he's already expressed a desire to be signed to an extension by any team that trades for him, and that he has it in him to be a major distraction if they don't oblige...I would hesitate to call him a bargain, even with the increases in payroll.

I'm partially convinced by Benjamin's argument about Sheffield and his contract -- especially in light of the new CBA. (Plus, thanks to the new CBA, he's unlikely to be busted for HGH, but that's another story.)

Let's say if my team needs offense, he'd definitely be worth pursuing -- but I'd want to get a solid handle on the contract situation before acquiring him. He could help a team like LAnaheim or the Cubbies. Heck, he could be an MVP candidate in Wrigley, just like Andre Dawson.

If I were the Red Sox, I'd stay away. They need pitching and defense more than they need another slow-moving slugger.

Gammons said on WEEI radio on his first interview after his medical problems that there was no way the Yankees were going to let him become a free agent and end up in Boston. Thus he thought they would pick up the option and then trade him to either the Angels or another team with some pitching depth.

As for Sheffield's whining during spring training, he was upset that they hadn't already picked up his option at the time. I personally agree with Gammons that he will end up on the West Coast.

As of 12:04 pm today, the Yankees had not picked up his option, though are thinking about it. Articles make reference to his present agent, but I believe he made his current deal with the team without an agent, ie. directly between himself and George. As sometimes happens in these types of deals, he did not have a no-trade clause. His alleged 'honesty' included a published interview in NY Magazine a year or 2 ago. Something in that article ignited speculation that he and Omar Minaya were great friends & he might go over to the Mets. The times in which every move may have been calculated on what the Red Sox might do have probably passed. They have other more and varied demons with which to contend.

Maybe I'm wrong on this, but I read more into his statement of "there'll be trouble." Some of you may be too young to remember but this is the same spoiled brat that admitted to intentionally dogging it with the Brewers so they would trade him. Great hitter but crappy person. Don't want him on my team.