The Rays have reached agreement with designated hitter Eloy Jimenez on a minor league deal, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. The deal could include an invitation to major league spring training.
The 28-year-old Jimenez signed as an international amateur with the Dominican Republic Cubs and made his professional league debut in 2014. His prospect rankings quickly skyrocketed, eventually ending with Dylan Seth in cross-city trade Jose Quintana Head to Wrigley Field. Jimenez’s top prospect continued to shine with the White Sox, who eventually signed him to a long-term deal ahead of his major league debut in 2019. Jimenez eight seasons for a rookie who has yet to make his major league debut.
The deal initially looked like a coup, as the slugger burst onto the scene in the majors after finishing fourth in 2019 AL Rookie of the Year voting and Jimenez went on to hit .295/.332/.559 ( 138 wRC+) slashed 14 homers in just 55 games during the shortened 2020 season. Jimenez’s stellar offense helped the White Sox reach the playoffs for the first time since 2008, and while they lost to the Athletics in three games, the South seemed capable with Jimenez as the go-to guy. competition in the coming years.
Unfortunately, things didn’t work out that way. Due to numerous injuries, Jimenez played only 139 games and plated 558 times over the next two seasons. Although he posted a 125 wRC+ during that time, the time he missed coupled with Jimenez’s absence The sluggish defense in the field has led to Chicago becoming more or less a full-time DH. While Jimenez stayed healthy and played 120 games in 2023, his offense left a lot to be desired as he hit just .272/.317 with 18 homers in 489 plate appearances. /.441. That’s good for a 105 wRC+, which is above average but makes him a roughly replacement-level DH (0.6 fWAR).
After losing 101 games in 2023, the White Sox will surely hope Jimenez can bounce back enough in 2024 to establish his trade value and for them to start by trading Dylan Ceas and refusing to take The rebuild brings in one or two interesting players. Tim AndersonOffseason club selections. Unfortunately, the slugger turned in the worst performance of his career to date in 2024. /.336, worth -0.9 fWAR. Due to below-replacement-level performance, Baltimore could easily decide to cut him this winter, making him a free agent for the first time in his career.
That landed him with a Rays team that had a disappointing 2024 season, thanks in large part to a lackluster offense. Given Jimenez’s own struggles offensively, it’s hard to guarantee he’ll be able to help. But adding a bat with potential upside on a minor league deal won’t hurt the club’s efforts to build a stronger roster in 2025, and even if Jimenez only manages the 105 wRC+ he posted in 2023, that’s still better than the 97 wRC+ the Rays The team withdrew from the DH spot last year. If Jimenez makes the training camp roster, he’ll join young men like this Christopher Morel, Jonathan Arandaand Jonny DeLuca Competing for playing time in the outfield and DH.
