Sheffield Released
By Blake VandeBunte • Mar 31st, 2009 • Category: 2009 Season, Gary SheffieldIn a bit of a surprise move the Tigers released designated hitter, Gary Sheffield. As we all know, Sheffield has 499 career home runs. I’m guessing the Tigers didn’t think ticket sales would get a big enough boost as fans tried to buy tickets to see him hit number 500. I’m guessing it has something to do with the fact that he is not the most loved man in baseball and that those 499 career home runs came with seven teams.
Sadly, the Tigers are the hook to pay him $14M no matter what, so that kind of sucks. However, he was owed that money anyway and truthfully, I think the Tigers get more bang for their buck by paying him not to play. If Sheffield clears waivers, which he definitely will, he is free to sign with any team. I’m sure someone will take him and I’m sure he’ll sign with anyone who is willing to have him so he can hit number 500.
The Sheffield era in Detroit started with so much promise. The team got him in a trade with the New York Yankees following the 2006 season and he was supposed to be that big bat in the middle that made the Tigers even more feared. It never really panned out.
Sheff battled a series of injuries and soon became useful only as a designated hitter. Chalk this up as another failed trade-and-sign deal by Dave Dombrowski. Remember, Sheffield would only agree to his trade to the Tigers if they gave him a two year contract extension. The Tigers were desperate and gave him what he asked for. Now here they are paying a 40 year old $14M not to play.
However, there are two layers of silver lining here:
- None of the players the Tigers traded to the Yankees for Sheffield have amounted to much of anything. Kevin Whelan has suffered through injuries in the minor leagues and posted ERAs in the mid-4.00s in both of his stops in the minors last season. Humberto Sanchez pitched in only 12 games last season due to injuries and now appears to be a middle reliever, at best. Anthony Claggett, another relief pitcher hasn’t panned out either and the 24 year old has yet to appear in the big leagues.
- Sheffield being released opens up all kinds opportunities for other players. Sheffield was strictly a DH and now guys like Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez can take those bats to allow younger, swifter players to play outfield. It remains to be seen what roster moves will be made in the wake of this latest move but I’m nearly certain I’ll be in favor of those moves as well.
I got a comment from Kenny on a post from yesterday that he thinks the Tigers are trying to be more like the Minnesota Twins. This move makes me think he was on to something. The Tigers are cutting away some bad contracts of older, slower players and taking on younger and quicker players. I like the way the club is heading now.
Here are the gruesome totals on the Sheffield ERA in Detroit:
- 247 games
- 225 hits
- .246 batting average
- 44 home runs
- $38,242,377
Blake VandeBunte is a posting fiend.
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This is kind an exciting move for the Tigers. Thames is finally getting some respect (although I doubt he gets anywhere close to 500 at-bats this year). Anderson and Granderson will show Tigers fans what speed in huge Comerica Park can do. Let’s just hope Dombrowski has learned his lesson about fat contracts for aging/deteriorating/had-one-good-season players. Give the man credit, though. This is a gutsy move. (I wonder–if Tigers end up releasing Willis and Robertson–how would these failed contracts compare to the overall payroll of the Marlins?)
Yeah, the more I think about the moves of the past two day the more excited I get about the team. You make a good point about coupling a speedier team with that huge outfield at Comerica. Could it be as simple as DD seeing the slumping ticket sales and just deciding to shake things up? I think it’s a combination of that and just wanting to blow up the old way of doing things.
[...] Blake of Spot Starters: “Chalk this up as another failed trade-and-sign deal by Dave Dombrowski.” [...]
Who is going to hit .240 and complain? Oh wait, they still have Inge. I really like this move. I am like you Blake. These two moves have me more excited about this team. I have been thinking about all of their options with the lineup and I like it. Magglio, Guillen, Thames, Larish and Cabrera should all be able to play more games this year with Sheffield gone. Instead of giving guys days off they can use the DH as a rest day for the big guys while allowing the other guys to play the field.
Come on, we all know there is no way in hell that Inge hits .240.
HaHa. Nice, Blake. So true about Inge. This move just makes sense to me. Give Thames more ABs, open up a spot for Larish to come north to the big club rather than play in Toledo, and allow for some older guys who actually still produce and have value to rotate through the DH position. To me, this really clears up the questions over the Anderson trade.
Agreed, the Anderson deal suddenly makes a lot more sense. I like the way the club is shaping up now, at least offensively, and I’m in favor of anything that results in Thames getting more at bats.