BALTIMORE (AP) – Gary Sheffield has no intention of leaving the New York Yankees, and manager Joe Torre said Wednesday that the team rejected a possible trade with the New York Mets involving the outfielder.

Sheffield reacted emotionally when asked to comment on a story in the New York Post, which said the Yankees have held preliminary talks on a trade involving Sheffield and Mets outfielder Mike Cameron.

“I can’t sit here and blame the Yankees for other teams wanting me, so let’s clear that up,” Sheffield said. “I understand that. But I’m just letting you know if it happens, it becomes personal, and I’m not going to accept this because of the concessions I made.”

Sheffield signed as a free agent in December 2003. He has become accustomed to playing with New York and said Wednesday that he doesn’t want to drive to any ballpark but Yankee Stadium.

But he does not have a no-trade clause in his contract, and that’s one reason why he was surrounded at his locker before the Yankees and Baltimore Orioles were rained out.

“All this is is talk, so since it’s talk, I’m going to talk and that’s all I’m doing,” he said. “The media’s just running their mouth, and I’m just running mine.”

The struggling Yankees might make deals before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, but Torre said it won’t be the one involving Sheffield and Cameron.

“I talked to him, I guess after you guys talked to him. I just wanted to let him know that we turned down any inquiry about him from the Mets,” Torre said. “We said, No, thank you.’ I just wanted to tell him what (Yankees general manager Brian) Cashman told me.”

Mets general manager Omar Minaya wouldn’t comment on any talks with the Yankees.

“I think Cam has done a great job in right field. We’re very happy with Mike Cameron,” Minaya said. “He’s part of our team. I want to say, he’s part of our core.”

Cameron also didn’t want to discuss the situation.

“Don’t ask me about no trade because I don’t know nothing about it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Yankees recalled right-hander Jason Anderson from Triple-A Columbus and optioned outfielder Kevin Reese to the Clippers.

Anderson wasn’t told how he will be used, but said, “I’m not really worried about it. I’m just glad I’m here.”

I’ll take it day by day and get myself ready as much as I can. The (bullpen) phone will ring eventually and I just want to make sure I’m ready for whatever situation it is.”

Anderson was 4-1 with a 2.85 ERA with Columbus this season. This will be his second stint with the Yankees; he played with them in 2003 before pitching for the Mets later that season and for Cleveland last year.



AP Sports Writer Mike Fitzpatrick in New York contributed to this report

AP-ES-06-29-05 2131EDT


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