Gary Sheffield Cut by Tigers, Stuck at 499 HRs

Gary Sheffield currently sits at 499 HRs, one HR from becoming the 25th player to hit 500 HRs in a career.

He was in the second year of a two-year $28 million contract extension he was given once Detroit acquired him from the Yankees.

But the last two seasons have relatively dismal. Oft-injured and perhaps showing his age (he is now 40), Gary Sheffield was limited to 114 games and a .225 average last year and 133 games and a .265 average two seasons ago with the Tigers.

Still, while managing only 8 hits in 18 games this spring, Gary Sheffield showed he still has power, as he did hit 5 HRs out of those 8 hits.

Now that Detroit has cut him, any team can sign Gary Sheffield for the $400,000 minimum, with Detroit paying the rest of his $14 million salary.