A former White Sox top prospect is looking to make his way back to the Major Leagues.
Outfielder Eloy Jimenez has re-signed with the Toronto Blue Jays on a minor league deal. The new agreement also comes with a non-roster invite to Spring Training, as first reported by MLB insider Mike Rodriguez.
Jimenez, who is entering his age-29 season, was originally acquired from the Cubs as part of the Jose Quintana trade in 2017. Ranked as a top 100 prospect, Jimenez would sign a six-year, $43-million contract before even appearing in a game for the White Sox. However, he never lived up to his potential, struggling mightily with injuries and overall performance. From 2019 to 2023, the highly touted slugger showed flashes of what could be, hitting .275/.324/.487 with a 118 OPS+ and 89 home runs across 436 games.
In 2024, Jimenez’s production took a noticeable drop as he hit .240/.297/.345 with five home runs over his final 65 games in Chicago. He was eventually traded to the Orioles at the deadline for left-handed pitcher Trey McGough in what was a clear salary dump by the South Siders. Jimenez never regained his footing in Baltimore as he finished the year slashing .232/.270/.316 with one homer in 33 games.
The abysmal performance was enough for the O’s to decline their 2025 club option for Jimenez, opting to pay his $3-million buyout instead of the hefty $16.5 million owed. Jimenez found other minor league opportunities, most recently signing with Toronto at the end of August. Though he only got into six games with their Triple-A Buffalo affiliate, he had a .508 OPS over 21 trips to the plate. This gave the outfielder an overall .247/.326/.347 line with three home runs and 30 RBI between the Rays’ and Jays’ farm systems, without any games played at the Major League level.
Considering his age, along with decent hard-hit ball numbers and exit velocities, the Blue Jays appear willing to take a more extended look at Jimenez during Spring Training. A strong showing could be enough for him to earn another shot at the majors, but it just doesn’t seem likely to come with the Blue Jays. Their crowded roster might force him to either opt out of his contract at the end of camp or hope for a trade to an interested team in need of outfield depth.
We will continue to monitor Eloy’s performance over the next few months and provide any relevant updates.
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Featured Photo: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
