Sheffield takes bat to Mets

One home run shy of 500, Gary Sheffield reached a contract agreement with the New York Mets on Friday, three days after he was released by the Detroit Tigers.

Just hours before opening their ballpark Friday night with an exhibition game against Boston, the Mets made another splash by acquiring the outspoken Sheffield. He is expected to be in New York today and the deal is contingent on passing a physical, General Manager Omar Minaya said.

The 40-year-old slugger provides the Mets with a right-handed power bat, something they need to help balance the batting order. But his role on the team will be tricky: New York was already set at the corner outfield spots with Ryan Church in right and Daniel Murphy in left -- both left-handed hitters.

Mets Manager Jerry Manuel said the team would give Sheffield time to get in shape to play the outfield, which he hasn’t done regularly since getting hurt in 2006. Once he shows he’s ready, Sheffield will probably get most of his time in right field.

“What this does for us, it really creates some depth in the team,” Manuel said

Sheffield is one big swing from becoming the 25th player to reach 500 home runs. The Tigers will have to pay $13.6 million of his $14-million contract this year while the Mets get him for the major league minimum of $400,000.

Etc.

Seattle Mariners All-Star right fielder Ichiro Suzuki will miss his first season opener in nine years after being put on the disabled list with a bleeding ulcer. . . . The company that owns baseball’s Texas Rangers and hockey’s Dallas Stars has defaulted on about $525 million in loans, with owner Tom Hicks saying that he intentionally made the move to help negotiate with banks.