The Associated Press

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Gary Sheffield is confident he will sign with the New York Yankees despite differences that have jeopardized the deal.

"We'll get it done," Sheffield said Wednesday night as he watched the Maryland-Florida college basketball game from the stands.

Sheffield was sitting next to Darryl Strawberry, a Yankees player development instructor and father of Terps player D.J. Strawberry.

The Yankees and Sheffield, who became a free agent after playing for Atlanta the last two seasons, agreed with New York owner George Steinbrenner on the parameters of a deal that would be worth $39 million over three seasons, a baseball official said on the condition of anonymity. But the Yankees want about $15 million deferred without interest, which would lower the average annual value to $12 million, for purposes of the luxury tax, the official said.

Sheffield, 35, wanted either interest on the deferred money or an additional $3 million. He asked for a no-trade clause, a demand the Yankees rejected, and then a limited no-trade clause.

Sheffield said he didn't see the sticking points as a precursor to a breakdown in the negotiations.

"It's just a matter of talking," he said.

REDS: Cincinnati requested outright release waivers on John Bale, clearing the way for his contract to be sold to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Japanese Central League.

Bale, 29, ended the season in the rotation but was considered a long shot to make it for 2004.

"This is a chance for John and his family to achieve a level of security that we can't guarantee him," Reds general manager Dan O'Brien said.

Bale, a left-hander, signed as a minor-league free agent May 28 and went 4-1 (3.30 ERA) and four saves in two starts and 24 relief appearances at Triple-A Louisville. He was called up to the Reds and went 1-2 with a 4.47 ERA in nine starts.

John Fay

METS: Japanese star Kazuo Matsui, a shortstop, finalized his $20.1 million, three-year contract.

ROCKIES: Third baseman Vinny Castilla agreed to a one-year, $2.1 million contract. He hit .277 with 76 RBI for Atlanta last season.

BREWERS: Manager Ned Yost was given a contract extension through 2005, with a club option for 2006. Milwaukee went 68-94 last season, a 12-game improvement over 2002, in Yost's first season with the team.

TIGERS: Detroit and second baseman Fernando Vina agreed to a $6 million, two-year contract. Vina, 34, won Gold Gloves in 2001 and 2002 with the Cardinals and has a .284 career batting average.

He missed much of last season because of a hamstring injury and must pass a physical before the deal is finalized.

RANGERS: Texas agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with first baseman Brad Fullmer, who spent the last two seasons with Anaheim. He played only 63 games last season because of a knee injury that required surgery.

PIRATES: Outfielder Daryle Ward and right-handed reliever Juan Acevedo agreed to minor-league contracts.

Ward will get a $600,000, one-year contract if he is added to the major-league roster; Acevedo would get $475,000 in the majors.