Sheffield "99.9-percent" sure he's going to retire

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JANUARY 06, 2011

It appears that Tampa native Gary Sheffield's career is coming to a close.

Sheffield told ESPN 1040 in Tampa this afternoon that he's "99.9-percent" sure he's going to retire. Sheffield, who last played in 2009 with the Mets, wanted to play with his hometown Rays, and had dinner with manager Joe Maddon last month. Maddon had said the meeting was just to get to know him, and there was no expression of interest, but Sheffield said on ESPN 1040 that he felt a "little disrespected" he didn't get a call back.

Sheffield, a career .292 hitter, has hit 509 home runs and racked up 1,676 RBI in his 22-year-career.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Posted by Times Editor at 8:07:22 pm on January 06, 2011 in

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