So long, Sheff

3/31/09 9:17 AM ET
Tigers release Sheffield
Longtime slugger let go by Detroit with 499 career home runs
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Gary Sheffield's milestone 500th career home run will have to come with a different team. The Tigers released the longtime slugger on Tuesday, a surprising roster move and a potential end to what may ultimately be a Hall of Fame career.
Sheffield said he was told by manager Jim Leyland and president/general manager Dave Dombrowski that the team wanted to go with a more versatile lineup. The Tigers did not envision Sheffield playing any position other than designated hitter.

The Tigers will owe Sheffield his guaranteed $14 million salary for this year. If he clears waivers, he'll be free to sign with any team he chooses.

Sheffield, who has 499 career home runs, said he was surprised by the move and that he didn't consider it a possibility.

"I never really thought about it, to be honest with you," he said.

wow there is a god. wait is this an early april fools joke.

austin

Just didn't think it would happen this fast, I guess.

Some other team will be as stupid as the Tigers and get this fool. The Astros just put an 0-4 with 3 strikeouts by swining in the dirt in their lineup.

some struggling team will think it will bring a crowd to see him get 500.

austin

TrammMan wrote:

Some other team will be as stupid as the Tigers and get this fool. The Astros just put an 0-4 with 3 strikeouts by swining in the dirt in their lineup.

some struggling team will think it will bring a crowd to see him get 500.

austin

Well, the Tigers will still have to pay him $14 million - league minimum. If another team needs a bat, why not sign Sheffield to the league minimum? If he doesn't work out, just release him. Eating the league minimum is not as bad as eating $14 million. It's no risk.

Tigers Release Gary Sheffield

Last Update: 10:52 am

LAKELAND, Fl. (WXYZ) - In a surprising move, the Detroit Tigers have released designated hitter Gary Sheffield.

The Detroit Free Press says that Sheffield was told he was released because the Tigers want more versatility on their roster.

The move is surprising because it forces the team to pay Sheffield $14 million this season, and because Sheffield is just one home run away from having 500 for his career.

Once he clears waivers, Sheffield will be able to sign with another team. He says he would like to play for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays because they are close to his home.

03/31/09 10:42 AM ET
Tigers release Sheffield
Longtime slugger let go by Detroit with 499 career home runs

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Gary Sheffield's milestone 500th career home run will have to come with a different team. The Tigers released the longtime slugger on Tuesday, a surprising roster move and a potential end to what may ultimately be a Hall of Fame career.

Sheffield said he was told by manager Jim Leyland and president/general manager Dave Dombrowski that the team wanted to go with a more versatile lineup. The Tigers did not envision Sheffield playing any position other than designated hitter.

The Tigers will owe Sheffield his guaranteed $14 million salary for this year. If he clears waivers, he'll be free to sign with any team he chooses.

Sheffield, who has 499 career home runs and is on the verge of becoming just the 25th player in history to record 500, said that he was surprised by the move and that he didn't consider it a possibility.

"I never really thought about it, to be honest with you," Sheffield said.

Sheffield spent the last two seasons with the Tigers, batting a combined .247 with 44 home runs and 132 RBIs in 247 games, primarily as a designated hitter. He played in just 114 games last season, missing time because of a sore right shoulder and a strained oblique.

The 40-year-old is a career .292 hitter over 21 seasons with seven teams -- the Brewers, Padres, Marlins, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees and Tigers. For his career, he has 2,615 hits, 1,633 RBIs and 1,592 runs scored in 2,476 games.

"Gary Sheffield is a probable Hall of Famer, and I think should be a Hall of Famer," Dombrowski said. "He's had a tremendous career. But it's a situation, when we looked at our roster, it was hard to keep Marcus Thames and Gary Sheffield. We have a player in Marcus Thames that we think can be a productive hitter for us."

The Sheffield move means Thames is on the team, Dombrowski said. The final spot on the bench is now down to a competition between Jeff Larish, Ryan Raburn and Brent Clevlen, though Dombrowski did not rule out bringing in a player from elsewhere.

The DH role, meanwhile, will not be a full-time position for anybody the way it was with Sheffield. Instead, Leyland is expected to rotate players in and out, allowing Carlos Guillen, Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera to get games there on occasion.

"It gives [Leyland] the flexibility to get those guys in the lineup when you don't want to have them in the field," Dombrowski said.

The move caught teammates by shock. As Sheffield talked with reporters, he shook hands with Cabrera when he arrived at the locker next to him.

"I'll see you," Sheffield said.

"Where are you going," Cabrera asked.

"I got released," Sheffield answered.

Cabrera's jaw dropped.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

It's about time, but I seriously never thought it'd happen.

Watch Sheff hit 300 and hit 30 home runs somewhere else this season

If thats the case, that just really proves how bad the coaching staff is.

austin

Bye Sheff I will miss you...... NOT

gs78 wrote:

Watch Sheff hit 300 and hit 30 home runs somewhere else this season

Or .375 with 45 HRs.

Too bad he didn't get 1 more HR in Detroit. That would have been kind of cool. I'm still happy with this move (unless he does what GS or I said).

TrammMan wrote:

If thats the case, that just really proves how bad the coaching staff is.

austin

They ARE!

catbox_9 wrote:

gs78 wrote:

Watch Sheff hit 300 and hit 30 home runs somewhere else this season

Or .375 with 45 HRs.

Too bad he didn't get 1 more HR in Detroit. That would have been kind of cool. I'm still happy with this move (unless he does what GS or I said).

I am not


I wanted to see Sheff hit 500 as a Tiger

And he might have one more season in him


I hope he hits 150 with zero home runs this year

But i think he gonna have a big season if he stays healthy



At least a decent one


Sheff should hit in the 20-30 range

And near 300 if he plays enough games


80-90 RBI

Not bad for someone pushing 40 years old

Tigers are gonna regret this move

Just watch!

The cutting of Sheff came as a surprise to Leyland.

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

The cutting of Sheff came as a surprise to Leyland.

And for a lot of people


I don't know about this move

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

The cutting of Sheff came as a surprise to Leyland.

Of course it did, they were butt buddies. Perez, now Sheffield. Who is gonna take this place now and take a job away from someone?

austin

Sheff is really dominant in NY.... batting .136....

gs78 wrote:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

The cutting of Sheff came as a surprise to Leyland.

And for a lot of people


I don't know about this move

Batting .136?

I think I'm cool.

Sheff will hit better later this summer

He just off to a slow start

Let's not cheer for him.

gs78 wrote:

Sheff will hit better later this summer

He just off to a slow start

He's been off to a slow start the last 2 years...

gdennis59 wrote:

Let's not cheer for him.

I am not cheering for him


Nor am I a Sheff fan


I am just making a prediction for Sheff this season

And I predict he gonna hit for average and home runs when this summer