The Orioles expressed curiosity in first baseman/outfielder Gavin Sheets at one level this winter, based on MASN’s Roch Kubatko in a current mailbag column. Sheets stays a free agent, nevertheless it’s unclear whether or not or not the Orioles nonetheless keep curiosity in his providers at this level within the offseason.
Sheets, 29 in April, was a second-round choose by the White Sox again in 2017 and was non-tendered by Chicago again in November after elements of 4 seasons with the Sox. By far the worst season of Sheets’s profession got here in 2023, when he hit a paltry .203/.267/.301 with a wRC+ of 61 in 344 journeys to the plate. Exterior of that disastrous season, nevertheless, he’s usually appeared like a median to barely beneath common hitter on the large league stage. Notably that manufacturing comes with a large platoon cut up; for his profession, Sheets sports activities a decent 98 wRC+ towards right-handed pitching however is 74% worse than league common towards southpaws. That very same precept utilized to his 2024 season as effectively, when he posted a 94 wRC+ towards opposite-handed pitching however lefties restricted him to a wRC+ of simply 59.
For a membership in want of a left-handed platoon bat at first base, the addition of Sheets might make loads of sense. With that being stated, nevertheless, Baltimore’s curiosity in Sheets is at the very least considerably shocking given the truth that Ryan O’Hearn fills a really related area of interest and is presently locked into their roster on the again of his second consecutive robust season in a part-time position with the membership. Like Sheets, O’Hearn is predominantly a primary baseman however may play the outfield in a pinch. Whereas Sheets has gotten extra time within the outfield than O’Hearn up to now of their careers, that additional time has solely served to spotlight Sheets’s questionable protection on the place, as he’s been price -14 Outs Above Common in proper discipline throughout his MLB profession.
For the reason that begin of the offseason, the Orioles have added Ramon Laureano, Dylan Carlson, and Tyler O’Neill to their already-crowded outfield combine whereas O’Hearn, Ryan Mountcastle, and Coby Mayo all stay within the combine for taking part in time at first base. That deep group of expertise appears to go away little room for a participant like Sheets to interrupt into the combo, although it’s definitely doable the Orioles might nonetheless be fascinated about him as a depth piece on a non-roster deal in case of an damage or commerce clearing out a few of that 40-man depth. Trying past the Orioles, there are a handful of golf equipment that would use a participant like Sheets as a possible platoon choice at first base or within the outfield. The Reds, Angels, Rockies, and Marlins are among the many golf equipment who struggled most towards right-handed pitching final yr who might have room for Sheets on their bench.
