Olney: Would Yanks Exercise Sheff's Option?

With Bobby Abreu now under contract for 2007, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that the Yankees would not exercise Gary Sheffield's $13MM option.  He seems poised to head up a small group of free agent right fielders.

However, Buster Olney makes a good argument for the Yankees to exercise his option even with Abreu in the fold.  Remember, the Yankees are a team Olney knows well; he wrote a book about them.  Sure, Sheffield may not be worth the full $13MM next year.  But one of New York's competitive advantages is its ability to take on salaries.  How many teams would salivate at the idea of getting Sheff on a one-year deal to minimize their risk? Think Theo Epstein wouldn't jump on that?  It's like last winter's Furcal contract, only better.

After considering Olney's argument, I realize that it would be silly to let a premium player walk away from a reasonable short-term contract just because of a position logjam.  As many have speculated, Sheffield could learn to play first base. 

Comments

[Conor]

I think an interesting idea would be to find out if there is a good market for Sheffield first, and then, if there is, exercise the option and then trade Sheffield to a team that would have been going after him anyway. It would A.) keep Sheffield away from, oh, I don't know, the Red Sox, and B.) give the Yankees something to work with as far as prospects go so they'd either have something for themselves in a few years (or now) that they might need (SP perhaps) or they'd have something to offer teams in July 2007 at the trade deadline. Thoughts? Anyone?

[bobo]

I think one of the big advantages to exercising it now is to keep Sheffield calm - all everyone's saying is that he's sure to be gone next year now that Abreu is here.

I don't see why he has to play first though. Wouldn't Giambi be better than Sheff at first?

Matsui in left, Abreu in right, Sheffield at DH, Giambi at first. When one of them sits, Melky goes to the OF. If Giambi sits, maybe Sheffield can play first but it's probably not worth it to devote that much time to him to learn a new position in that case.

[Kramerica Industries]

sean casey to the tigers

[The Sporting Brews]

Now that I read this, I would make sure Sheffield's option is exercised by the time Matsui returns.

[man ram is the man]

i miss peter gamons, he was a red sox guy :)