By GEORGE KING

Gary Sheffield believes Doc Gooden’s life is in a higher hand and talks about how he rebuilt his body. Gary Sheffield says Dwight Gooden’s fight to remain clean of drugs and alcohol is in Gods’ hands.

“The only thing that can save him is God,’’ Sheffield said of his troubled uncle, who is unemployed and living with is mother. “Man can’t save him because he is in a different fight.’’

Sheffield reports to Tigers camp Wednesday and is looking forward to a new team that embraced him in a recent FanFest appearance in Detroit.

“They treated me very well,’’ Sheffield said of a mid-January trip to Detroit.

Sheffield received a letter from George Steinbrenner after he was dealt to the Tigers and received a two-year extension for $28 million that carries him through the 2009 season. And he spent the winter hanging around Derek Jeter.

Following a workout at ProPeak Fitness, a facility less than five minutes from Legends Field where the Yankees held their first full-squad practice, Sheffield said, “Tell all those guys over there I said hello.’’

Sheffield was unaware of exactly what Alex Rodriguez said about his relationship with Derek Jeter but wasn’t surprised about the reaction.

“That’s New York,’’ Sheffield said. “That’s the way it is.’’

Sheffield spent the winter pounding weights and toning his 38-year-old body.

“I dedicated myself in the off-season,’’ Sheffield said as trainer John Toomer put him through a rigorous workout. “I just have to go out and make up for last year.’’