Update 4 – 7:19 p.m.: Steve Popper is on top of this. He just reported that Sheffield first asked for an extension three weeks ago. Tonight, he “revisited” it.
Update 3 – 7:10 p.m.: Sheffield is in uniform and sitting on the Mets bench as the game gets underway.
Update 2 – 6:58 p.m.: This gets better and better. Patrick, in the comments, alerted me to the fact that Sheffield asked the Mets for an extension.
David Lennon provides us with an update…
A person familiar with the situation just said that Sheffield asked the Mets for an extension today and they refused. Now at standoff.
I was siding with Sheffield until I heard this. As Patrick said, it’s a very Brett Favre thing to do.
Update – 6:55 p.m.: Joel Sherman tweets…
A Mets official tells me that "Sheffield has not been released."
Original Post: According to Steve Popper, one player told him that he was told Gary Sheffield had been released. Brian Costa reports the same story.
Joel Sherman notes that Tim Redding was the anonymous player, if it matters.
At this point, since the Mets already screwed up by pulling him off waivers, this would be the classy thing to do by the Mets. The team should grant Sheffield his release and let him possibly play elsewhere.
It’s not like the Mets are going anywhere or doing anything.