Sports
Orioles Get New Power Hitter Eloy Jiménez from White Sox
The Baltimore Orioles have made a notable addition to their roster by acquiring outfielder Eloy Jiménez from the Chicago White Sox. This trade was announced on Tuesday and involves sending minor league left-hander Trey McGough to Chicago in exchange.
Eloy Jiménez, now 27 years old, is recognized for his impressive hitting skills. He was a 2020 American League Silver Slugger and has hit a total of 94 home runs in his six major league seasons, including 31 home runs during his rookie year in 2019. However, this season has seen him struggle a bit, with a batting average of .240, just five homers, and 16 RBIs over 65 games.
In the past few seasons, injuries have kept Jiménez off the field more than he’d like, as he has only played 139 games combined in 2021 and 2022, and 120 games in 2023. Earlier this season, he had to go on the injured list due to a left adductor strain and a left hamstring strain.
The Orioles were looking for a right-handed hitter to strengthen their lineup after trading outfielder Cristian Pache in return for reliever Seranthony Domínguez. With Jiménez on board, it seems Pache could be out of the picture for the Orioles now.
While Jiménez started his big league career as an outfielder, he’s mostly been utilized as a designated hitter lately. In fact, this year, he’s only played eight innings in the outfield but has been the designated hitter for the majority of his games.
As the Orioles have not settled on a consistent designated hitter in recent years, Jiménez may step into that crucial role, especially against left-handed pitchers moving forward.
This season, Jiménez is making $13.8 million and has club options for the next two seasons at $16.5 million for 2025 and $18.5 million for 2026. This trade is seen as low-risk for the Orioles and could potentially yield significant rewards if Jiménez can return to his prime form.
In addition to Jiménez, the Orioles also made another move before the trade deadline, acquiring outfielder Austin Slater from the Cincinnati Reds. Slater is another addition aimed at bolstering the team’s batting lineup as they continue to make key adjustments.
