Gavin Sheets is the player the Chicago White Sox should trade

The Chicago White Sox are trying to make some big moves following the most disappointing season of any team in Major League Baseball. There are a lot of issues that need to be fixed if they are going to bounce back in time for the 2023 season.

One of those issues is the log jam of players that can poorly play the outfield, play first base, or be a designated hitter. In that group during the 2022 season were Jose Abreu, Gavin Sheets, Eloy Jimenez, Andrew Vaughn, and sometimes Yasmani Grandal.

Abreu is a free agent so a decision has to be made on that front by both him and the team. Jimenez is the best hitter of them all by a lot but he can’t play the outfield so he has to be the designated hitter.

The decision made by Abreu will directly impact Andrew Vaughn as the most likely first baseman of the future. That leaves Gavin Sheets as the odd man out so they need to trade him. Yes, it is nice to have a big left-handed bat but there simply isn’t enough room for him.

The Chicago White Sox need to move on from Gavin Sheets this off-season.

He would have to play in the outfield again or take at-bats away from Jimenez which are both bad ideas. They need to make the decisions that are smart for the team over a 162-game season. There is a risk with Eloy’s injury history but there are other ways to work around that.

Sheets is not a right fielder. They have too many first-basemen and DH types to keep him if they no longer want him to get starts out of his natural position. Trading him would show everyone that this team is serious about winning.

It would also be beneficial to Sheets. He doesn’t need to be playing right field in Major League Baseball. He can go to a team that has a need for a lefty power bat and doesn’t have a log jam at his position.

Whether it’s Oscar Colas, a trade target, or a free agent, they need a true right fielder. Sheets isn’t going to be that guy so it is time to move on. They can get some nice returns for him because he is a great player that is just in the wrong situation.