Tigers put Gary Sheffield on waivers but no takers!

Last edited by GoGetEmTigers on Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:45 pm; edited 1 time in total

Tigers put Gary Sheffield on waivers
It’s routine but timing offers intrigue by his recent news

By JON PAUL MOROSI • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • August 12, 2008

The Tigers placed Gary Sheffield on trade waivers Tuesday, a procedural move that may or may not have a link to comments the slugger made recently about his role on the team.

Players must be placed on waivers in order to be traded after July 31. Teams typically put most of their players on waivers at this time of year, even if they have no immediate intention of trading them.

In that respect, Tuesday’s move was routine.

Yet the timing — two days after the Boston Globe published a story in which Sheffield said he did not want to continue as a designated hitter in Detroit — offered some intrigue.

Sheffield — who homered in his first at-bat Tuesday night against Toronto — will be on waivers for two days, during which time every club in baseball will have the opportunity to claim on him.

If he is claimed, the Tigers will have the option of assigning his contract to that team. In that event, the claiming team would be responsible for all the remaining money on Sheffield’s contract: roughly $3.5 million this year and $14 million next year.

Sheffield entered Tuesday’s game with a .219 batting average, 10 home runs and 33 RBIs in 76 games, during a season in which he has suffered through the effects of off-season shoulder surgery.

For those reasons — his contract and his production — it is almost certain that Sheffield will clear waivers Thursday afternoon.

At that point, he essentially will regain the status he had before baseball’s non-waiver trade period expired July 31: He will be on Detroit’s active roster but with the possibility that he could be traded.

It does not appear that Sheffield has formally requested a trade, but his recent statements suggest he would be open to playing for a team that would make him an everyday outfielder. Sheffield told the Globe: “I can be in the outfield and play every day. I don’t want to DH. I don’t feel like a baseball player when I DH.”

Sheffield and the Tigers disagree on his ability to play the outfield — something he has not done in a game since May 16.

On Monday, Sheffield said in an interview session at Comerica Park that he is “capable of playing the outfield.” On the same day, Detroit manager Jim Leyland said medical personnel have informed him that it would be “suicidal” for Sheffield to play in the outfield now.

“He could hurt again by diving for a ball,” Leyland said.

Sheffield’s discontent with his role, coupled with the uncertainty surrounding his health, will have a significant impact on his trade value.

In other words: If Sheffield does not want to be a designated hitter, and his own team doubts his physical ability to play the outfield, which general manager would be eager to take on the $17.5 million remaining on his contract?

As such, the Tigers would likely need to assume a large portion of Sheffield’s contract in order to trade him.

At this point, though, it is unclear how many clubs have serious interest.

The Tampa Bay Rays attempted to add a right-handed-hitting outfielder prior to the non-waiver deadline, and they could renew their pursuit this month — especially since star leftfielder Carl Crawford was recently placed on the disabled list. Sheffield, whose contract includes a no-trade clause, grew up in Tampa, which could enhance the appeal for him.

Contact JON PAUL MOROSI at 313-223-4097 or jmorosi@freepress.com . Check out his Tigers blog at www.freep.com/sports

PLEASE GOD LET SOMEONE SIGN HIM

MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THIS S>O>B WILL PLAY LIKE GANGBUSTERS THE REST OF THE SEASON: TIGERS WILL FALL SHORT OF THE PLAYOFFS BUT ILITCH SIGNS THIS BASTARD TO A BIG ONE YEAR CONTRACT

SHEFF SPENDS 09 INJURED, BITCHING AND K's

fish,

don't take him. He's not good

He is still signed through 2009 season.

GoGetEmTigers wrote:: He is still signed through 2009 season.

someday he will learn to stop shootin' his mouth off!

No takers for Sheffield on waiver wire
Team now free to trade designated hitter at any point

By JON PAUL MOROSI • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • August 14, 2008

As expected, Tigers designated hitter Gary Sheffield cleared trade waivers this afternoon.

Now that the team has secured waivers on Sheffield, it can trade him at any point between now and the end of the regular season.

Sheffield is owed roughly $17.5 million between now and the end of the 2009 season, which limits his trade value.

Sheffield entered today’s game against Toronto with a .222 batting average, 12 home runs and 35 RBIs in 78 games, during a season in which he has suffered through the effects of off-season shoulder surgery.

Sheffield’s attorney, Rufus Williams, said earlier this week that his client had not asked the Tigers to be traded. Yet, Williams has left open the possibility that Sheffield, who has a limited no-trade clause, would agree to a deal.

“We’ll have to see what it is,” Williams said Tuesday. “I don’t think you close any doors. I think you see what it is.”

Sheffield and the Tigers disagree on his ability to play the outfield, which he has not done in a game since May 16.

On Monday, Sheffield said in an interview session at Comerica Park that he is “capable of playing the outfield.” On the same day, Detroit manager Jim Leyland said medical personnel have informed him that it would be “suicidal” for Sheffield to play in the outfield now.

It’s not clear how many teams have interest in acquiring Sheffield. Any talks would likely begin with the other club asking that the Tigers assume a substantial portion of the money remaining on his contract.

The Jays made a huge mistake not pitching to Sheff in the 8th

He would have popped up or Struck Out

Smooth Move Cito Gaston

my thoughts exactly! I couldn't believe they walked him!

Thank You Cito

Glad they did, that way he did not strike out!

GoGetEmTigers wrote:: Glad they did, that way he did not strike out!

Maybe he would have hit a HR

gs78 wrote:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:: Glad they did, that way he did not strike out!

Maybe he would have hit a HR

True, but since the tiger

won, it does not matter!

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

gs78 wrote:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:: Glad they did, that way he did not strike out!

Maybe he would have hit a HR

True, but since the tiger

won, it does not matter!

I was reading some of the comments on the Jays message Board

Nobody mentioned the Intentional Walk of Sheff

They were blaming Frasor, or saying BJ Ryan should have pitched a 2 inning save or Carlson should have pitched the inning, etc