BALTIMORE, MD: Ryan Mountcastle, a first baseman, was activated from the 10-day injured list, according to an announcement made by the Orioles. Eloy Jiménez, an outfielder and designated hitter, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk in retaliation.
Jiménez has likely given his approval to this move considering he has more than five years of major league service time and cannot be optioned without it. In addition, the team declared the release of right-hander Craig Kimbrel, who was marked for assignment the previous week.
Jiménez was purchased in a buy-low transaction from the White Sox at the deadline. He hit .275/.324/.487 for the White Sox from 2019 to 2023; his output translated to a 118 wRC+. Although his mounting injuries were an increasing concern, he had a track record of success when playing.
The stigma associated with injury-proneness became somewhat more severe in 2024. In the first few months of the season, he was placed on the injured list twice: once for a strain on his left adductor and again for a strain on his left hamstring. The more he was hitting, the less he was producing.
When the Orioles traded for him, they sent minor league reliever Trey McGough the other way. He ended up hitting .240/.297/.345 with an 82 wRC+.Since moving to Baltimore, Jiménez has hit .232/.270/.316 for a 68 wRC+, so the change of scenery hasn't helped much. The team has been dealing with several injuries to position players in recent weeks.
It makes sense that he would take an optional assignment, even though he is free to refuse it. With just a few days remaining in the season, he would not be eligible for the postseason with any other team at this time.
He will remain on the O's 40-man roster and hope to eventually contribute to the team's postseason run rather than searching for other possibilities. He had precisely five years of service time going into the campaign, and by 2024, he will have accrued enough time to add another full season to that.
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