Gavin Sheets
Gavin Sheets showed tremendous potential with the White Sox in 2021.
Gavin Sheets did everything the White Sox could ask of him upon being called up. He burst onto the scene with instant production. During his MLB debut on June 29th, he became the first White Sox player since Craig Wilson in 1998 to have multiple hits and RBIs in his Major League debut.
The next night he launched the first home run of his career. It would be the first of 11 home runs that he would belt in just 160 at-bats. One of those home runs included a walk-off against Jose Berrios of the Minnesota Twins on July 19th. His production carried over into the postseason where he batted .333 with a home run a double and an RBI.
Sheets has some upside as a left-handed power bat and the White Sox are giddy about his potential. However, his stock is at an all-time high and his natural position at first base is being blocked by Jose Abreu and Andrew Vaughn.
Abreu isn’t going anywhere and Vaughn was a first-round pick that projects to be a future staple in the lineup. Sheets’ defense and splits against left-handed pitching don’t justify putting him in the right field either.
If the White Sox were to dangle Sheets on the trade block then there should be plenty of suitors. In the National League, he would be a perfect fit for teams looking for a designated hitter. Out of all the players the White Sox have on the roster, a case could be made that Sheets has the highest trade value. Using him would be a good way to acquire a bullpen arm or mid-tier starting pitcher.