NEW YORK -- Gary Sheffield remains convinced he won't be playing for the Yankees next season.
Yet he also contends that he could reverse the situation if he could just meet with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner -- a meeting he said won't take place because of the 76-year-old Steinbrenner's recent health issues and organizational "middle men" blocking Sheffield from seeing him.
"I know I would be here, but when you've got middle men blocking him and won't let you do certain things -- they get in the way and their personal feelings get in the way -- this is what happens," said Sheffield, whose $13 million club option for next season was picked up by the Yankees on Sunday with the intention of trading him. "If it wasn't for his health, I'd have made that conversation happen, but my situation ain't worth that to me."
Sheffield wouldn't identify who the "middle men" were, but presumably he was referring to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.
Steinbrenner was the driving force in bringing Sheffield to the Yankees before the 2004 season, negotiating with the slugger directly on a three-year, $39 million contract.
"I know I only came to the Yankees because of George Steinbrenner, and if only one guy wants you here and that's the reason why you're here, you just let bygones be bygones," Sheffield said Wednesday night at the opening of the Brooklyn Diner in Times Square, where he also accepted $25,000 for his Gary Sheffield Foundation.
Looking back, Sheffield regretted not having as good a relationship with members of the Yankees organization -- such as Cashman and manager Joe Torre -- as he had with Steinbrenner when he first signed the deal.
Because of that, the slugger added that he never achieved true comfort in his three seasons in New York.
"I was always feeling a little insecure about where I fit here and where I belong and do they want me here -- and I had to play on those terms," Sheffield said. "I was being a man about it and going out and trying to do my job under those conditions."
Sheffield has talked often with Cashman since the end of the season and is in the process of formulating a list of teams to which he would accept a trade. He has suggested that he will demand that his new team give him a multi-year deal rather than just let him play out his option.
Sheffield, however, does not have a no-trade clause in his contract, and he is not a 10-and-5 player (10 years in the Majors, five with his current team), so he cannot contractually block a deal.
The Orioles reportedly have made overtures to the Yankees for Sheffield, but the Phillies, Indians, Rangers and Tigers are also said to be interested.
Sheffield believes a trade will happen soon and believes a quick resolution is best for all parties involved.
"Nobody wants to wait around and not know where you're playing," said Sheffield, who turns 38 later this month. "I want to get familiar with where I'm going to be at, and if I'm not here I would like to know where I'm going to be."
Sheffield played in just 39 games this season because of a serious left wrist injury -- prompting the Yankees to make a trade-deadline deal for right fielder Bobby Abreu. Upon his return in September, Sheffield played several games at first base.
But with Abreu under contract for next season, the Yankees have no position for Sheffield. By picking up his option, the Yankees can get something in return for him, in addition to effectively blocking him from going to division rivals Boston or Toronto as a free agent.
Despite the injuries, Sheffield hit over .290 with 76 home runs and 269 RBIs in 347 games for the Yankees since 2004 -- numbers Sheffield thinks should have kept him in pinstripes over Abreu.
"He's a good player, but you can draw it up any way you want and he ain't me," Sheffield said. "I understood them having to make this move for the remainder of the season, but to sit here and I'm leaving because of [Abreu]? I was always told you need to leave because someone is better than you and that's not the case here."
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