http://0rz.tw/G0P9x Gary Sheffield is not retired and prefers to play with the Rays According to Brady Gardiner of MLB Network Radio, Gary Sheffield said, “I'm not retired”. Sheffield said he's willing to be a designated hitter. Sheffield sat down with Steve Kornaki of Mlive.com today at the Winter Meetings and shared his thoughts and feelings about wanting to return to the game he loves. “I’ve taken a year off from playing, but can see the difference I would make on some teams. It opened my eyes, and I look at things differently. I want to play close to home.” Sheffield lives in Tampa and would have a short drive to Tropicana Field if he played for the Rays, which is what his preference is. Sheffield did say he received at least one job offer last season but turned it down. “I got a call last year to be an every day right fielder for a club,” Sheffield said. “But it was a team that I didn’t know if it would win or not.” Due to his injury past, Sheffield would be better suited for the American League where he would be able to DH. http://0rz.tw/FDwTm Gary Sheffield Not Officially Retired, but Focused on Financial Management Gary Sheffield didn't play baseball last year, but that didn't mean he was without a job. Sheffield, a nine-time All-Star and the owner of 509 career homers, said Tuesday in the lobby of the hotel hosting baseball's Winter Meetings that he's been spending time putting together a financial management startup, a company that he hopes will help young ballplayers keep more of their money. "For the last seven years of my career, I negotiated my own contracts," Sheffield said. "It was stuff I learned along the way, stuff that young players who are earning a lot of money haven't learned. "If we can fill that gap, I think we can really provide a service." To be clear, the veteran outfielder Sheffield isn't following the path of former big leaguers Dave Stewart, Joe Sambito and others in trying to make their way as a player agent, although he said he has qualified as one. Sheffield said he was able to survive quite nicely without much help from agents later in his career and he says if he can communicate the lessons he learned to a new generation of player, those players will be able to do better with their money. One of his clients is pitcher Jason Grilli. "Too many times I've seen guys come up, then three or four years after their career is over, the money is gone," Sheffield said. "That's not the way it should be. The kids have to learn how to take responsibility for their money so it's there later on." Sheffield said there is a difference between being good at negotiating for the best possible contract money and managing that money once it starts flowing into the player's pocket. And he's not saying he wouldn't try to negotiate one more deal for himself with the right big league club -- if the opportunity arises. "I haven't retired yet," he said. "I didn't play last year but I did get an offer from the Giants on April 18; it just didn't work out. I still have the same passion for the game and I still think I have something to offer for the right team." The franchise best suiting Sheffield from the player's point of view is Tampa Bay, given that's where Sheffield resides. Whether that deal or some other one happens, however, would seem to be a long shot. "The last few teams who've contacted me have been National League teams wanting me to play right field," he said. "I could DH if it was needed. We'll have to see what happens. "But that's not why I'm here. I'm mostly here to see about helping these kids save some more of their money." --

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