It has been Gary Sheffield’s long time dream to follow in his Uncle Dwight Gooden’s footsteps. Uncle Gooden was a star at the Mets and the team has strong championship aspirations, making it a perfect place for Sheffield. When asked about it, Sheffield said that it had been a lifelong thing for him to follow Gooden to the Mets and that he wanted to fulfill this dream. He also added that he has a chance of winning the championship with the Mets and that if it came to him coming off the bench, he will do it. But the question really is why should the Mets take on Sheffield considering all the steroid rumors haunting Sheffield and the Mets’ own problem with steroid scandals? Why should the Mets risk getting more bad news and drug scandals especially when the guy they are considering was dumped by his team and batted only .225 last season?

It is quite inevitable that there be news, one way or another, good or bad, if the Mets take on Sheffield. But this is supposed to be a no-lose deal since the Mets are only paying a minimal $400,000 to Sheffield and can easily cut him off should things get bad. On the other hand, they can lose a great deal and mess with the team’s chemistry. Jerry Manuel said it quite frankly that he was not trying to develop or evolve and therefore not worried about nursing along Fernando Tatis or Daniel Murphy. What he is trying to do is win a championship.

No one can deny that Sheffield’s use of steroids in the past is still very much in question, not to forget that Sheffield himself admitted to unwittingly accepting a steroid cream from a trainer back in 2001 when he was working out with Barry Bonds, but didn’t know what it was during that time. His name surfaced in the Mitchell Report as someone who obtained and used steroids. It would be no surprise if Sheffield’s name appeared on the list of positives from 2003, which is yet to be leaked out to the public.

Sheffield can very well behave himself and knock in a bunch of runs but the mere act of signing him up inevitably sends a message to the public, and this may not be a pretty message. The liability that this brings in is not just about winning or losing a game with him on the team. As mentioned, the Mets could easily cut him off if with the slightest sign that he isn’t performing well. Also, the Mets has always tried to be a family-friendly franchise and taking in Sheffield could be an extension of this policy, presenting a good image to the media.

The problem remains for the Mets, however: If they take in Sheffield with the full knowledge that he has been tainted with steroid use, would that be a message to the public that they are not so serious about battling the scourge of steroids?

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