Sheffield Released -- New York to Call?

From the Detroit News:

In a stunning move, because they will eat the $14 million they owe him for 2009, the Tigers have released designated hitter Gary Sheffield.

Sheffield, who said he was enjoying this spring camp and looking forward to the season because he was not experiencing pain in his troublesome shoulders, could not have seen his release coming.

But he was called into manager Jim Leyland's office before 9 a.m. Tuesday and was given the news.

Sheffield, 40, played in 114 games last season, hitting .225 with 19 home runs and 57 RBI. He missed portions of the season with a sore right shoulder and strained left oblique.

Despite his injuries, Sheffield can play an effective role with a reduced workload. Coming off the bench as a pinch hitter, similar to what Ruben Sierra successfully did for the Yankees in 2003 and 2004, would not only solve Sheffield's recurrent injuries, it would add a much needed bat to the Yankees bench.

The bench currently consists of Melky Cabrera, Nick Swisher, Cody Ransom (when Alex Rodriguez returns from his injury), Jose Molina and probably Angel Berroa. There is no hitter that gives the team an excellent shot to drive in runs. Sheffield is the type of player that can do that.

This brings up the question: 'Which bench player must be dropped from the 40-man Roster?' The most obvious constant is Molina, who is arguably the best backup catcher in the game. The next to stay is Ransom, who can fill in at every position in the infield. Swisher shows his value through his abilities to switch hit and play corner outfield & 1st base.

The two left are Berroa, a 30-year old infielder whose best years reek of mediocrity, and Melky Cabrera, the 23-year old outfield phenom who is coming off of one of the most disappointing years in baseball history. Last season, he hit .249 -- about 25 points off of his career average -- with a .301 on-base percentage, leading him to 8 homeruns and 37 RBIs. Cabrera would eventually split time with Brett Gardner in center for the remainder of the season.

Regardless of Cabrera's standout Spring Training, Yankees Manager Joe Giriardi announced that Gardner would replace Cabrera as the squad's starting centerfielder.

While Berroa is significantly worse than Cabrera at the plate, he will be needed as a defensive replacement until Alex Rodriguez returns. So right now, it seems more sensible to ship Melky Cabrera elsewhere.

Cabrera could be used as trade bait, as teams could always use a 23-year old veteran centerfielder with a great arm and tons of upside.

Yes, Gary Sheffield is 40-years old and is not an effective fielder anymore, but his bat is enticing. He sits at 499 career homeruns, one shy of a great milestone, and has chip on his shoulder to prove that he can still be a solid major leaguer. While the average age of the Yankees roster would rise even higher, so would the offensive production.

Sheffield could be a phenominal addition to the Yankees. They need to recreate Ruben Sierra's pinch hitter role, an aspect that hasn't been prominent since the last time they made the World Series. And now that this goal is accessible, the steps needed to achieve it should be taken.

Just food for thought.

UPDATE: Two early candidates to land Sheffield are Philadelphia, which just released OF Geoff Jenkins, or Sheffield's hometown Tampa Bay Rays.

--The Yankees put Relief Pitcher Jonathan Albaladejo on its 40-man roster, sending relievers Dan Giese, Alfredo Aceves and Brett Tomko to AAA. I don't have an issue with the other two, but Dan Giese is a major league talent and proved it last season. He is an above average long reliever who can make spot starts. Too many times, Giese cleaned up messes left by starters and did an exceptional job relieving Joba Chamberlain when he was on a strict pitch count.

--Max Caster