Offseason deals put added pressure on White Sox' Gavin Sheets

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The signing of non-roster invitee Mike Moustakas as a corner infielder and left-handed bat off the bench, the trades by White Sox general manager Chris Getz for outfielders Dominic Fletcher and Zach DeLoach and the non-roster invitation to Kevin Pillar could put Gavin Sheets on the roster bubble.

“It’s Getz’s job to put the best men in the outfield he can and bring the best competition possible,” the left-handed Sheets, a first baseman by trade, said. “It doesn’t change my goal and what I need to do. I need to be better than last year.”

Sheets, who batted .203/.267/.331 with 10 home runs in 118 games last season, said he got too focused on mechanics. Talking to special assistant to the general manager Jim Thome was helpful.

“I realized I lost the competitiveness in my nature that helped me have success in the past at the plate,” Sheets said.

Sheets made minor mechanical tweaks with the goal of being “more athletic” at the plate.

“I’m excited to see how that translates,” he said.

Sheets’ OPS has dropped each season, from .830 his rookie year to .599 in 2023.

Lopez in comfort zone at second

Nicky Lopez has worked almost exclusively at second base this spring, which tells you where he figures to be locked in this season. Lopez also plays shortstop and third base, but the Sox are pairing him with shortstop Paul DeJong to man the middle of the infield this season.

“I’m just at second right now, but [infielders coach] Eddie [Rodriguez] told me to bounce around,” Lopez said.

“I like second. I’ve gotten very familiar with it and put together some good seasons there defensively. Third base you take the thought process out of everything; it’s more reactional. Everything has to be crisp at shortstop; there’s no room for error there. And second base is an understanding of, you have some time.”

DeJong was signed and Lopez acquired in a trade with the Braves to bring defensive stability to the middle of the diamond. The two are becoming familiar with each other and started the Cactus League opener against the Cubs on Friday.

“The good thing is we have an understanding of where we like the ball fed around the bag,” Lopez said. “It’s been an easy transition.”

Grifol to Montgomery: Keep it fun

Top prospect Colson Montgomery, the future at shortstop if he demonstrates the defensive chops to stay at the position, played the first five innings at short Saturday. Manager Pedro Grifol, taking the pressure off the 2021 first-round pick, said he wants consistency and the routine plays made.

“And after that, athleticism will play,” Grifol said. “The fundamentals are important; the routine plays are important. Just go have some fun, man.”

Montgomery is rated as the No. 8 prospect by ESPN and No. 9 by MLB Pipeline.

Brebbia not ruling out opener

Right-hander John Brebbia said every day is getting much better than the last with his strained right calf, and while he’s wearing a boot and using a mobility scooter to get around, he isn’t ruling out being ready by Opening Day barring a setback.

“Range of motion, all that stuff, is better,” Brebbia said. “I don’t want to speak for the medical staff, but it hasn’t crossed my mind to not be ready [for Opening Day].”

Signed to a $5.5 million contract in the offseason to be a primary option in the back of the bullpen, Brebbia suffered the injury during live batting practice.

Sox 8, Mariners 7

Korey Lee, who hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh and a go-ahead single in the eighth, is one of seven catchers in camp that ex-catcher and White Sox manager Pedro Grifol is touting.

“This is my 33rd professional season,” he said. “I’ve yet to see a roster with seven catchers [Martin Maldonado, Max Stassi, Lee, Chuckie Robinson, Edgar Quero, Carlos Perez, Adam Hackenberg] of this potential, of this caliber. It’s a really good corps.”

The Mariners were 3-for-3 in stolen bases, two against Lee and one against Stassi. Quero, pinch-hitting for Oscar Colas, delivered a walk-off single as the Sox improved to 1-1.

† First baseman Tim Elko, who homered Friday after leading Sox minor-leaguers with 28 homers last season, had an RBI single and flew out to the warning track. Not ranked among the Sox’ top 30 prospects, Elko had a statue unveiled Thursday at Mississippi, where he led the Rebels to a College World Series title in 2022.

† Shortstop Braden Shewmake (one) and third baseman Lenyn Sosa (one) contributed to a four-error afternoon by the Sox.

On deck

Sox at Diamondbacks, 2:10 p.m. Sunday, Scottsdale, Jonathan Cannon vs. Slade Cecconi.