Gary Sheffield Trade

August 12, 2008: Rumors circulated that Detroit Tigers outfielder Gary Sheffield might be traded. Reports have indicated that the Tigers placed Sheffield on waivers to gauge the interest of teams looking to improve for the stretch run. The news comes after it was reported that Sheffield is unhappy with his role on the team as a part-time outfielder and designated hitter. Sheffield had been hitting .222 with 10 home runs and 33 runs batted in for the Tigers at the time of the reports.

"I can be in the outfield and play every day. I don't want to DH. I don't feel like a baseball player when I DH, I don't know how to be the leader that I am from the bench. I can't be a vocal leader. I can't talk to guys from the bench because I don't feel right about it."—Gary Sheffield

""I was totally flabbergasted by that article, and totally caught off guard. When we made the trade for Gary Sheffield, we received permission from the Commissioner's office to speak with Gary, which I did. I told him that all I had here for him was the DH role, and maybe play in the outfield once in a great while. (I told him), 'If you do not want to accept that, do not accept the trade.'"—Tigers manager Jim Leyland