why did the yankees trade sheffield?

Question

he was my favorite player, just like soriano was. how can they ever replace such talent for the game.

Answer 1

Several factors. Money was an issue. They really don't need his bat in the lineup. He is hurt more and more each season. He is on the down side of what I would call a HOF career. Certainly if he reaches 500 home runs he will be elected into the HOF. But maybe the one factor that shadows everything else, he carries a lot of baggage with him. He's not the most pleasant guy to deal with plus when he doesn't get his way he can be poison in the locker room. The Yankees have enough to deal with with A-Rod. Plus they need pitching.

Answer 2

Mostly cause hes a little baby. He complains when a player is replaced they are replaced by a better player and he says in his case he was not. Sheffield is a very good player but all around Abreu is the better play.
Abreu is the better outfielder and is the better all around hitter and he can steal bases, somthing sheffield doesnt have the speed for. Abreu is also the typical Yankees hitter, one that takes pitches and works the count. Sheffield doesn't strike out nearly as much as Abreu but he doesnt walk as much either which in turn can lead to runs with Abreu's speed. Playoffs showed the Sheffield couldnt be an everyday starter at first base and yankees made a good trade getting one of the tigers aces from triple a which in turn will help the yankees for the future.
If Yankees can sign Zito to a 5 year deal their staff in two years could look like this.
Wang
Zito
Hughes
Tyler Clippard
Humberto Sanchez (the pitcher picked up in the sheffield deal)
Also in that deal they got some young arms that come out of the bullpen that could eventually taker over the closers role of rivera. So in the end this trade could end up being a trade that helps the yankees future and saves money as the tigers have to get a good bat for 2 years while losing their youth.

Answer 3

Because they were getting sick of his attitude. Also, he's 38, no longer a good outfielder, and said he would not play first base (even though late in the year he said he was looking forward to it and thought it would extend his career). It was a chance to get rid of a problem and also a $13 million salary for this year. The Yankees also got three promising pitchers, including one, Humberto Sanchez who grew up in the Bronx.

The Yankees have plenty of bats, and they played just fine last year when Sheffield and Matsui were out. In fact those two coming back may have disturbed the chemistry that allowed the Yankees to play so well. It was a good trade.

Answer 4

optimistic each and every person in enormous apple is replaceable. Bubba Crosby went to the Cincinnati Reds even though it wasn't a commerce. i don't be attentive to why the Tigers needed Gary Sheffield. They have already got a great outfield in Craig Monroe, Curtis Granderson & Magglio Ordonez. So the Yankees have been given 3 pitchers for the destiny and if only one in all them seems to be a Yankee then they made out.

Answer 5

Who is saying money? If it was about money, they would not have picked up his option.

Once the yankees picked up Abreu, they basically said to Sheffield you are not wanted, Sheffield was not happy. He was in the last year of his contract.

The yankees already had Damon, Matsui, Abreu, Melkey on contract. they have 4 outfielders, they do not need sheffield, he can't play first base, and does not want to.

So they either let him go, or pick up his contract and try and get something for him, they choose the later, a good move. They got 3 pitching prospects.

They got rid of sheffield the day they brought in Abreu. Now the question should be, Is Abreu better than Sheffield ?

Answer 6

It was a win/win deal for both teams..

For the Tigers, it ads an established hitter that can bat 3, 4 or 5, and make the Tiger line up that much more difficult to pitch around (the number nine hitter hit over 25 homers last season)

For the Yankees, they replenish a spent farm system with some pitching prospects that may or may not pan out, and while Gorgie's opinion I usually agree with, I wuld disagree with him this time..

All three pitchers the Tigers gave up are valuable, but on the outside, looking in as far as the Tigers are concerned..

Sanchez would be a fourth or fifth starter on 75% of the major league rosters, but isn;t even in consideration for a starting job in Detroit.. Rogers, Bonderman, Robertson and Verlander are locks.. and the fifth spot will be fought over by Maroth, Andrew Miller, Wilfredo Ledezma and Jordan Tata.. throw in that Sanchez stopped pitching by late July because of a sore or tired shoulder and he has become a questionmark in the Detroit organization..

Kevin Whelan was considered the future closer of the Tigers in 2008 or 2009, but with the emergence of Fernando Rodney, and more over, Joel Zumaya, Whelan's value to the Tigers became secondary..

And Claggett, also considered to be a closer type who has a year of pro ball is still a crap shoot.. he did very well in single A, but it's a huge jump from Single A to AA ball..

Add that the Tigers have several other very good looking pitching prospects that are developing, and the Tigers could afford the price tag NY wanted..

As for the Yankees, Sheffield is not the type of player you want on your roster if he is disgruntled.. That point that he seems geniunely excited to be reuintied with both Dombrowski and Leyland is good news for the Tigers..

Again.. I think it's a win win situation.. for the Tigers for 2007 and 2008 and for the Yankees in 2009 and beyond, when Whelan and possibly Claggett mature.. Sanchez, may have an impact in three years, but his shoulder injuries would be a concern for me..

Answer 7

The Yankees already have Matsui, Cabrera, Damon and Abreu, so paying Sheffield's large salary would be a waste. Besides, the Yankees lack two things: promising minor leaguers and pitchers. Therefore, trading for 3 pitching prospects is a better fit for their team. Also, Sheffield was injured last season, and that was before he had been having troubles with his shoulder. It is unlikely that Sheffield could have season without a major injury.

Answer 8

Sheff became expendable...he only had one year left on his contract and the Yankees have more than enough outfielders with the Abreu pickup. he didn't want to play first base and the Yanks thought they could get some good prospects for him. Don't worry about the Yankees they were the best offensive team in baseball last year without him or Godzilla...and yes i know that offense disappeared in the playoffs so don't even go there. but they Yankees will be fine they still have an amazing lineup

Damon
Jeter
Abreu
A-Rod
Matsui
Giambi
Posada
1st base FA
Cano

Answer 9

Well they traded him for a bunch of reasons.

1.) Hes a Free Agent next year. They only picked up the option for THIS YEAR, meaning next year he was gone anyway. Might as well get something for him.
2.) Hes 38 years old. He's been keeping away father time for a while, but eventually its bound to catch up to him
3.) They have a RF in Bobby Abreau. Abreau is much younger and is going to stick in NY for a while. He didnt want to play first base even though last year Shef told the Yankees he wouldnt mind it.
4.) He wanted a trade, when he found out he was basically going to be a DH and First Baseman he didnt want to stay.
5.) They needed pitching bad, so they needed to get rid of someone, Shef just had the odds stacked against him.

Answer 10

b/c he's 38..b/c of the money..b/c the Yankees need pitching..especially young pitching..Also, he specifically said that he had to be promised that he would not play 1st base and the Yankees can't promise him anything b/c their outfield is stacked (Matsui, Damon, Abreu, Cabrera) There was simply no room for Sheff and instead of just dumping him for nothing and have him possibly signing w/the Red Sox or the Jays, they got 3 really good and young pitching prospects. They got the Tigers' top prospect and two other great prospects..I think it was a great move for the Yankees..Been a fan since birth!!

Answer 11

First reason is money, Sheffield would demand a high salary. Paying him high amounts of money is too risky. Yanks no longer need his bat in the lineup or hlep in the field. Yankees got a great deal in that trade. They need pitchers, and they got 3 amazing pitching prospects. Sheffield is going to end up as a DH for thre Tigers.