The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Gary Sheffield contends Scott Boras, his former agent, has no right to a percentage of the salary he's earning with the New York Yankees.

Boras filed paperwork requesting 5 percent of the $39 million, three-year contract Sheffield signed with the Yankees last offseason, the New York Post reported. Boras said Sheffield agreed to let him represent the outfielder when his last contract with Atlanta ran out, the newspaper said.

Sheffield says he negotiated his current deal with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner himself. And the slugger said he hired a lawyer to file a grievance on his behalf.

Boras did not return telephone messages seeking comment.

Sheffield thinks his problems with Boras cost him a longer contract when he became a free agent after last season.

"Can you explain why (Miguel) Tejada gets six years, (Vladimir) Guerrero gets five years and I get three? He cost me two years of a contract because he was trying to tarnish my name," Sheffield said. "The whole year in Atlanta, I had to get the players' association to stop him from writing me threatening letters saying, 'Either you let me do your contract or I'll be forced to sue you.' ... A lot of organizations didn't want to talk to him or deal with him."

DIAMONDBACKS: Right-hander Shane Reynolds had arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage in his right knee and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

BLUE JAYS: Cy Young Award winner Pat Hentgen was dropped from Toronto's rotation. He went 2-8 with a 6.42 ERA in 15 starts this season and will work long relief.

ROYALS: With the worst record and second-worst staff ERA in the American League, Kansas City fired pitching coach John Cumberland. Mike Mason, the organization's roving pitching instructor, will serve as interim pitching coach for the rest of the season.

TIGERS: Pitcher Danny Patterson was put on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Monday, because of bursitis in his right shoulder.