Future Padre - Gary Sheffield (?)

Gary Sheffield – The Yankees hold a $13 million option on Gary for 2007. With outfielders Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, and Bobby Abreu already under contract and DH/1B Jason Giambi in the fold as well, the Yankees will likely decline Sheffield’s option. Furthermore, while the Yankees spend more money than anyone else, even they don’t have a bottom barrel of cash. And their needs demand that they spend the lion’s share of their budget on pitching.

Sheffield has career numbers (.297/.398/.525) that exceed Soriano’s best year. However, Sheffield will turn 38 this November and is coming off his worst year since 1991 with Milwaukee.

Sheffield walks more than he strikes out (1293 career BB & 971 SO) and still has a right-handed pull swing and lightning-quick bat. The Western Metal Supply Co. building should look inviting.

Averaging Sheffield’s last three full seasons (excluding last year where Sheffield played in only 39 games and accumulated 151 at-bats) shows that Gary still has a potent bat (the OBP & SLG are approximated):

.304/.397/.550 with 31 doubles, 36 home runs, 85 walks and only 71 strikeouts.

Sheffied has never been a plus-defender in the outfield, but a move from right field to left would minimize that negative.

Because of Sheffield’s age and injury-plagued 2006, Sheffield will command fewer dollars and fewer years than either Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Lee. Even such, Sheffield is talented enough that he will not come cheap. Best guess sees Sheff locking down a 3-year deal worth around $30-35 million (maybe a two-year deal with a vesting option).