TIGERS ADD MORE BITE WITH SHEFFIELD
The Detroit Tigers acquired right-fielder Gary Sheffield from the New York Yankees for minor-league pitchers Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan and Anthony Claggett.
What does it give the Detroit Tigers
Magglio Ordonez notwithstanding, the one thing the Tigers were missing in their pennant-winning 2006 season was that big, superstar bat in the middle of the lineup. Sheffield, if he can still hit at 38 (which he turns on November 18) like he did in his prime, gives them just that. Of course, he missed most of '06 due to injury but when he returned in September he looked like himself, so chances are he can still approach 30 homers and over 100 RBIs for the Tigers. They also signed him to a two-year contract extension that runs through 2009, which should keep the demanding slugger happy until the end of his career. The only question is where he'll play. Ordonez plays Sheff's natural right field, so the newcomer may be destined for first base, where he rounded out last season in the Bronx.
What does it give the New York Yankees
Dealing from depth after last year's acquisition of right-fielder Bobby Abreu, the Yanks filled the constant hole in their system where promising, young pitching should be. Sanchez comes to the Yanks as the Tigers' top pitching prospect. After spending the first half of '06 dominating at Double-A, he didn't look out of place at Triple-A thanks to his great mound presence, mid-90s heat and great curveball. Born in the Dominican Republic, he moved to New York City at age 10, so he shouldn't feel out of place in the Big Apple, where he could be pitching out of the rotation in late 2007 or early 2008. Whelan is another hard-throwing righty, but he's a relief prospect. He earned 27 saves at High-A Lakeland this year and if the 22-year-old continues on that track he could be the heir-apparent to Mariano Rivera. Claggett was a level behind Whelan this year and also excelled as a closer, so the Yanks could have some impressive options for late-relief in two or three years.
Fantasy impact
