Gary Sheffield, Mets at Odds Over Contract Extension

NEW YORK -- The greatest constant of Gary Sheffield's career has been not home runs nor postseason appearances but his overriding concern with his next contract.

According to reports on the websites of the New York Post and Newsday, Sheffield Thursday asked the Mets for a contract extension and was refused.

That led to his being pulled from the lineup as, according to the Post, he threatened to leave the team. But Sheffield stayed for the game, striking out as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.

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This is basically a repeat of how Sheffield's tenure with the Marlins, Dodgers and Braves all came to their ends.

Before Thursday's game, when asked about his removal from the lineup, Sheffield only said he was physically fine and needed a break.

On his way out of the stadium after the game, he said only, "I'm done."

Whether that means for the night or the rest of the year -- we'll have to see.

"He's OK," manager Jerry Manuel said before the game. "He asked for a day off to kind of clear some thoughts and things."

Sheffield, 40, has been the Mets' primary cleanup hitter with the injuries to Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado. Sheffield leads the team in homers (10) and RBI (43)

He signed with the Mets in early April after the Tigers released him. He became the 25th player to reach 500 career homers with a shot on April 17.