Sheffield's option picked up by Yankees
NEW YORK (AP) - Gary Sheffield was told Wednesday that the New York Yankees will pick up his US$13 million option for next season, according to a newspaper report.
Sheffield said he was hoping to test the free-agent market and get another three-year contract, USA Today said in a story on its Web site.
"This will not work, this will not work at all," Sheffield told the newspaper. "I don't want to play first base a year for them. I will not do that."
Sheffield, sidelined from May 29 to Sept. 22 with an injured left wrist that required surgery, hit .298 with six homers and 25 RBIs in 39 games this season. He played first base for the first time in his major league career after he returned in September.
"I don't know what they're (Yankees) going to do," Sheffield said. "Maybe they picked it up just to trade me. If they do that, if I just (go) to a team for one year, there's going to be a problem."
A message was left by The Associated Press seeking comment from Sheffield's agent, Rufus Williams.
