White Sox Part Ways with Gavin Sheets

Sheets has been part of the White Sox fabric since being selected in the second round of the MLB Draft in 2017. His journey from an intriguing prospect, known for his power at the plate during his minor-league days, to his major-league debut in 2021 has been closely watched by fans and analysts alike. Sheets' initial stint in the majors — highlighted by 11 home runs and a .250/.324/.506 slash line over just 54 games — provided hope that he could offer consistent power from the left side.

However, his path since then wasn't as promising. Over the subsequent three years, Sheets struggled to maintain his offensive output, culminating in a below-average .227/.291/.368 slash line across 1,255 plate appearances. His defensive work, particularly in the outfield when tasked with playing there, didn't tip the scales back in his favor as he posted three straight seasons of below-replacement-level performances.

The White Sox' decision to non-tender Sheets may have been sealed when the team signed free-agent outfielder Austin Slater earlier in the week. It was further cemented with Chicago tendering a contract to fellow first baseman Andrew Vaughn.

While the White Sox look to put last season's dismal performance in the rearview, Sheets hits the open market.