The Orioles expressed curiosity in first baseman/outfielder Gavin Sheets at one level this winter, in accordance with MASN’s Roch Kubatko in a current mailbag column. Sheets stays a free agent, but it surely’s unclear whether or not or not the Orioles nonetheless preserve curiosity in his providers at this level within the offseason.
Sheets, 29 in April, was a second-round decide by the White Sox again in 2017 and was non-tendered by Chicago again in November after components 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. Outdoors of that disastrous season, nonetheless, he’s typically seemed like a median to barely beneath common hitter on the massive league stage. Notably that manufacturing comes with an enormous platoon break up; for his profession, Sheets sports activities a good 98 wRC+ in opposition to right-handed pitching however is 74% worse than league common in opposition to southpaws. That very same precept utilized to his 2024 season as nicely, when he posted a 94 wRC+ in opposition to 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 may make loads of sense. With that being stated, nonetheless, Baltimore’s curiosity in Sheets is no less than considerably stunning given the truth that Ryan O’Hearn fills a really related area of interest and is at present locked into their roster on the again of his second consecutive robust season in a part-time function with the membership. Like Sheets, O’Hearn is predominantly a primary baseman however also can 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 focus on Sheets’s questionable protection on the place, as he’s been value -14 Outs Above Common in proper area 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 enjoying time at first base. That deep group of expertise appears to go away little room for a participant like Sheets to interrupt into the combination, although it’s definitely potential the Orioles may nonetheless be interested by 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 in opposition to right-handed pitching final yr who may have room for Sheets on their bench.
