It looks like Sheldon Neuse is not going anywhere. At least, not just yet.
Neuse had been designated for assignment in a relatively surprising move on Saturday. His roster spot was needed by the Oakland A’s for Ernie Clement, a similar player who had been claimed on waivers. It seemed possible that this would mark the end of his time with the organization.
Oakland A’s keeping Sheldon Neuse for now
This can be considered a positive, if somewhat unexpected, development for the A’s. Neuse is capable of slotting around the infield, making him someone that would be useful for nearly every team.
The problem is that Neuse has not had much success at the major league level. He has posted a .212/.262/.296 batting line in his 420 plate appearances, hitting seven homers and eight doubles. His defensive versatility could make him a solid bench option, but he needs to hit far more to be considered a viable candidate for that role.
Nonetheless, he is the type of player a rebuilding team could take a chance on. Neuse has a solid track record at Triple-A, having posted a .299/.353/.471 batting line with 50 homers and 76 doubles in his 1559 plate appearances. That level of production is worth taking a chance on.
Neuse is at a crossroads in his career at this point. He seemingly has nothing left to prove at Triple-A as he continues to perform well at the highest level of the minors. However, his struggles in the majors make it probable that he will be viewed as a Quad-A player, someone too good for Triple-A but unable to find that same degree of success at the major league level. In the end, Neuse could be the type of depth piece that remains in the minors, shuffled back and forth on the 40 man roster as needed.
The Oakland A’s will keep Sheldon Neuse in their system for now. At this point, he may be a Quad-A player serving as a depth piece in the minors.