NEW YORK, Nov 5 - The New York Yankees picked up the $13 million option on Gary Sheffield on Sunday but are expected to trade the unhappy slugger.

Sheffield played just 39 games last season because of a wrist injury prompting the Yankees to obtain outfielder Bobby Abreu at the trade deadline.

The hard-hitting right fielder had just six home runs and 25 RBI in his injury-plagued campaign but in his 19-year career has slammed 455 homers and batted in 1,501 runs.

"I don't know what they're going to do," Sheffield told USA Today last month.

"Maybe they picked it up just to trade me. If they do that, if I just (go) to a team for one year, there's going to be a problem.

"A big problem. I will not do this."