Mets close to signing Sheffield

Joel Sherman of the New York Post is reporting that the Mets are very close to signing Gary Sheffield. Sherman quotes a source as saying "Unless something drastic happens, he is a Met. Someone would have to offer him a second year, and I just don't see that happening."

This is a very low-risk, high-reward sort of deal for the Mets. Sheffield is a right-handed powerhitter that the Mets lack in the middle of the lineup. I'm guessing he'll start on the bench, though, and eventually compete with either Church or Murphy for a corner outfield spot.

With that being said, I hate Gary Sheffield. Hate everything he's all about. He's a loud-mouth, hot-headed old man. We can also make a fairly educated hypothesis that Sheffield was a juicehead back in the day, although I'm not even sure that matters to anyone anymore. He already ran himself out of New York once and he's run himself out of practically every other city he's played in.

But maybe he can shut me up. Maybe he can shut himself up and come to the ballpark everyday and accept his new role with the Mets. Maybe he can be a huge pop in the middle of the order after Delgado and Beltran, much like Moises Alou was when he was healthy. I guess if he reverts to the usual Sheffield, the Mets can cut him loose at anytime with no repercussions.

I just hope he recognizes he has the chance to be a part of a great team that wants to atone for the last three seasons' heartbreaking endings. Play hard, Gary, and don't be a cancer.