From BRIAN COSTELLO
Gary Sheffield made it to Citi Field today during the Mets-Red Sox exhibition game. The 40-year-old slugger said he picked the Mets over the Reds and Phillies because he believes this team can win a championship.
“It’s been a lifetime thing for me,” Sheffield. “My uncle [Doc Gooden] was here with the Mets. It’s been a dream of mine for a long time. I never thought it would happen. When it became reality that I had a chance to come here I said now I’ll fulfill my dream.”
He also said a text message from David Wright helped recruit him to New York and the urging of Gooden to sign with his former team.
Sheffield believes he can play right field regularly but said he’s fine with coming off the bench if that is the best thing for the team.
“I realize I’m at a point in my career I’m not the marquee guy to come in here and demand anything and demand a position or anything,” he said. “My goal is now I’m so much at peace with where I’m at I want to win a championship. If it takes me coming off the bench to do that I’m willing to do that.”
Jerry Manuel said Sheffield will not play the field at all in Cincinnati as the team works with him before games on fielding to gauge where he is.
Sheffield can be used as a pinch-hitter against the Reds, but probably won’t make his debut in the field until next weekend in Florida.