Gary Sheffield welcomed Bobby Abreu with open arms figuratively and literally in their first meeting on Tuesday.
With Abreu now manning Sheffield's usual right field, Sheffield's role, if and when he returns from injury in September -- at the earliest -- will alter. But that didn't stop him from hugging Abreu when he first saw him. ...

"I'm hurt. I can't help this ball club right now," Sheffield said. "They've got to do whatever they have to do to help this ball club, and I'm all for it. When I signed on to come here, the first thing they said was they would do everything they could to help get me a World Series ring and I'm all for it." ...

Sheffield worked out at first base with Don Mattingly before Tuesday's game, trying to learn the proper footwork. Sheffield said he would be fine with a position change, and Torre felt the veteran would have no trouble making the adjustment. ...

"They don't owe me anything," Sheffield said. "I earned everything I got in my 18 years. I never was given anything."