SI: Sheffield agrees to sign with Mets
Update, 4:04 pm:
“If he’s gonna help us win a World Series, then I’m excited he’s here,” Daniel Murphy said of Sheffield, when told of the signing in an interview with WFAN’s Mike Francesa earlier today.
Francesa is scheduled to speak with Mets GM Omar Minaya later today.
To listen to WFAN online, go here, where you can also hear Francesa’s interviews with Jerry Manuel, David Wright and John Maine from earlier today.
Original Post, 3:13 pm:
According to SNY’s MLB Insider Jon Heyman, of SI.com, free-agent OF Gary Sheffield has agreed to sign with the Mets.
“An official announcement is expected this afternoon,” writes Heyman.
Heyman believes the Mets will pay Sheffield the pro-rated portion of the $400,000 minimum.
...to me, what’s most noteworthy here, is that sheffield clearly was only going to sign in a place that will play him most… and so, sheffield must have been told, by the team, that he will play… or, at least play more than he would have played for the Reds and Phillies…
…now the question is: how much will he play, and at whose expense…
Sheffield hit .225 with a 19 HR in 114 games for the Tigers last season, and hit .265 with a .378 OBP and 25 HR in 133 games in 2007.
He played in just 39 games in his final season with the Yankees in 2006, while struggling with a variety of injuries.
In a poll on MetsBlog.com from earlier today, 55 percent of the 3,800 people who voted did not want the Mets to sign Sheffield.
For more on Sheffield, read Ted Berg’s report for SNY.
