The Detroit Tigers acquired ferocious — and cantankerous — slugger Gary Sheffield from the New York Yankees on Friday.

In return, the Yankees receive three young minor league pitchers: top prospect Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan and Anthony Claggett.

A wrist injury limited new Detroit Tigers outfielder Gary Sheffield to 39 games with the New York Yankees last season.
(Kathy Willens/Associated Press)

The Tigers are expected to extend Sheffield's contract beyond his current deal. Sheffield, who turns 38 on Nov. 18, has played 19 years and says he wants to play three more seasons.

Earlier this month, New York picked up its one-year, $13-million US option on Sheffield with the intention of trading him to the highest bidder.

The move didn't sit too well with Sheffield, who wanted to become a free agent and decide were he wanted to play.

Sheffield should provide the Tigers with an offensive boost. They won the American League pennant without a true slugger in their lineup. Craig Monroe led the club in home runs with 28 during the regular season.

Sheffield topped 34 homers and 120 runs-batted in each of his first two seasons in New York. This season, he was limited to 39 games with the Yankees because of a wrist injury. He hit .298 with, six home runs and drove in 25 runs.

"We have been able to add one of the biggest bats in baseball," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland, who managed Sheffield while he was with the Florida Marlins.

"I have a great relationship with Gary Sheffield and I have the utmost respect for him. I'm happy to add a bat of this magnitude and that he'll be a Tiger."

A player with attitude?

A nine-time all-star selection, Sheffield is seventh among active players with 455 home runs and sixth with 1,501 RBIs.

Leyland said Sheffield will primarily be used as a designated hitter and will sometimes play right field.

While he has a potent bat, Sheffield's critics argue he's a surly, selfish player, who only cares about money. 

The Tigers are Sheffield's seventh team. He has also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers.

The Yankees had been in the market for young pitching, acquiring a 22-year-old and a 23-year-old from Detroit.

Sanchez, who attended high school in the Bronx, is the oldest of the three. He split the 2006 season with Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo, posting a combined record of 10-6 with a 2.63 earned-run average in 20 starts.

Whelan notched 27 saves with a record of 4-1 and a 2.67 ERA in 51 games for Single-A Lakeland. He limited opposing hitters to a .178 batting average.

Claggett was 7-2 with an ERA of 0.91 and 14 saves in 51 games for Single-A West Michigan.

With files from Sports Network