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Mets sign veteran Gary Sheffield, bolstering outfield

Gary Sheffield and his 499 homers will get a chance after all.

After being dropped by the Tigers, the New York Mets picked up the veteran Gary Sheffield on April 6—just in time for their exhibition games against the Red Sox.

The Mets are to pay him only $400,000 while the Tigers owe him for the remainder of his $14 million 2009 salary.

Some might say that is a steal of a deal, but is Sheffield really worth stealing a hole in an already crowded lineup with a player who hasn’t played in the outfield consistently for years.

The Mets have a lot to lose if Sheffield is really as finished as he appeared over the last year and a half with the Tigers. Hampered by several injuries, he hit just .225 in 418 at-bats last year and .203 over the last half of 2007. The Tigers released him because manager Jim Leyland wanted more flexibility in the DH spot.

While the Mets have big bucks going to outfielders Ryan Church and Daniel Murphy, who are defensively solid, Sheffield will take away form both of their playing times with a weaker glove. However, both Murphy and Church are left-handed hitters, and Sheffield’s right-handed power could bring balance to the lineup.

Sheffield spent most of the past two seasons with the Tigers as the designated hitter, but often played right field with the Yankees and Braves. But he’s played just 13 times in left field since 2001.

Wherever Sheffield ends up playing, hopefully he doesn’t blow this chance…presumably his last chance.