Eloy Jimenez will be staying in the AL East next season.
According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, the former White Sox Outfielder/Designated Hitter has signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. His contract includes incentives depending on the number of plate appearances he receives this season.
Jimenez, 28, was acquired by the White Sox in 2017 from the Cubs for Jose Quintana. Once a top 100 prospect, Eloy never quite lived up to his potential, struggling mightily with injuries and overall performance when playing. From 2019 – 2023, Jimenez slashed .278/.328/.476 with a 119 OPS+ and 58 home runs.
In 2024, After batting .240/.297/.345 with an 84 OPS+ and 5 home runs in Chicago, he was traded to the Orioles for LHP Trey McGough in what was a clear salary dump for the South Siders. His struggles continued with the Orioles as he finished the season hitting .232/.270/.316 with a 72 OPS+ and one home run in 33 games.
The Orioles declined their 2025 club option for Eloy Jimenez, opting to pay his $3M buyout instead of the $16.5M he would have been due for this season.
As it’s a minor league deal, Eloy Jimenez will compete for a roster spot in Tampa and hope to revive his career to a semblance of what it was hopefully going to be.
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