Recently I read where the Rangers aren’t going to have a lot of cash to throw around during free agency. So this note from Gerry Fraley over at Fox Sports is a head-scratcher:

Texas has contacted Detroit about the availability of outfielder-designated hitter Gary Sheffield.

The Rangers need a middle-of-the-lineup bat to replace Milton Bradley, headed out of town as a free agent. Sheffield carries risks. He is 40 years old and has been troubled by shoulder problems in recent seasons. Sheffield last had a 30-homer, 100-RBI season in 2005.

I could see if Sheffield was a free agent and he was willing an incentive-laden, one-year deal. But Sheffield is on the books for $14 million in 2009. And while Sheffield is certainly a gamer, there always exists the (likely) possibility that something will irritate him.

Shockingly, Sheffield slugged only .400 last season. He just turned 40 and hasn’t reached .900 OPS since 2004. So someone tell me–if the report is true–why they would be trying to acquire him. For $14 million you could have Adam Dunn, Pat Burrell or Bobby Abreu.