Take Him To Detroit

Gary Sheffield. Say hello to your new team. The Detroit Tigers.

Sheffield was traded to Detroit for three minor leaguers. The Yanks had picked up his option, and with Sheffield brooding about having to play first base instead of the outfield, the Yanks were able to pull off a deal with the Tigers to get three right-handed pitchers - Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan and Anthony Clagget.

Sanchez is the apparent key to the deal.

This deal works out for everyone, especially the Yankees. Not only did they unload a problem in Sheffield, but they got pitching. Lots of young pitching. They also shed salary, which for the Yankees isn't a huge burden, it does free up money for pitching. Pitching has been a problem for the Yankees for quite some time, and their reliance on aging pitching has been their undoing for some time now. Johnson isn't the pitcher he once was, and Mussina is a servicable pitcher who can't pitch outside of his routine - a problem that manifests itself annually in the playoffs when he's needed most. The most dependable pitcher on the team right now is Wong, and he needs a supporting cast, especially in the bullpen. This deal with Detroit is the first step to getting those issues fixed.