Cashman In No Hurry to Ink Gary Sheffield's Pact

Look for Yankees GM Brian Cashman, following directives of boss George Steinbrenner, to wait until the 11th hour to extend OF Gary Sheffield's contract arrangement. Though it irks Sheffield, the Yankees are known to wait as long as possible before committing to major expeditures because it affords the team more time to observe and evaluate a player's progress, and possibly sidestep an unforeseen injury. Steinbrenner will almost certainly keep Sheffield, but there's no reason to hurry while the 37-year-old slugger struggles with a mediocre camp. Sheffield is in the last year of a three-year $39 million pact, and will become a free agent at the end of the year without a new agreement with the Yankees.