O's land big bat Eloy Jiménez from White Sox
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BALTIMORE -- A powerful right-handed bat is getting added to Baltimore’s roster.
Prior to the O's 6-2 win over Toronto on Tuesday night at Camden Yards, the Orioles acquired outfielder Eloy Jiménez and cash considerations from the White Sox, the club announced on Tuesday. The deal sends Minor League left-hander Trey McGough to Chicago.
TRADE DETAILS
Orioles to receive: DH/OF Eloy Jiménez, cash considerations
White Sox to receive: LHP Trey McGough
The 27-year-old Jiménez is a former American League Silver Slugger (2020) who has 94 home runs over six big league seasons, 31 of which came during his 2019 rookie campaign. This year, he is slashing .240/.297/.345 with nine doubles, five homers and 16 RBIs in 65 games.
Jiménez has been hampered by injuries throughout his career, playing only 139 games across the 2021 and ‘22 seasons, then 120 in ‘23. He spent time on the injured list earlier this season with a left adductor strain and a left hamstring strain.
Baltimore wanted to add a right-handed hitter after trading outfielder Austin Hays to Philadelphia on Friday in exchange for right-handed reliever Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache. With Jiménez in the outfield mix, Pache may no longer have a place on the O’s roster.
Jiménez broke into the big leagues as an outfielder, but he’s mostly served as a designated hitter in recent years. He’s made only one defensive appearance this season (eight innings in right field), with his other 61 games coming at DH.
Since the start of 2023, Jiménez has made 161 starts at DH and only 15 in the outfield.
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The Orioles haven’t had a set designated hitter in recent years, using that spot to rotate through players, however Jiménez could get a lot of starts there when the team is facing a left-handed starter moving forward.
Jiménez is making $13.8 million this season and has club options for each of the next two years, $16.5 million for ‘25 and $18.5 million for ‘26.
This is a low-risk, potentially high-reward move for the O’s, who didn’t have to part with a notable prospect and could get a big offensive boost should Jiménez return to his old form.
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Jiménez wasn’t the only right-handed bat acquired shortly before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline. The O’s acquired outfielder Austin Slater from the Reds. The deal, which also sent infielder Livan Soto and cash considerations to Baltimore, will see the O's send a player to be named later or cash to Cincinnati.