DEAL DONE: Orioles land a crucial key man to league huge deal
The Baltimore Orioles’ trade for Eloy Jiménez is shaping up to be one of the biggest bargains of the 2024 trade deadline. However, Jiménez’s long-term future with the team appears doubtful, as reported by Jim Bowden of The Athletic.
“I thought the Orioles made a smart move by acquiring Eloy Jiménez at the trade deadline, and I believe he’ll be a valuable asset for them as the season progresses,” Bowden wrote on August 12. “However, with a $16.5 million club option (with a $3 million buyout) remaining from his White Sox contract, it’s unlikely that the Orioles will exercise that option.”
Jiménez originally signed a six-year, $43 million deal with the Chicago White Sox in 2019, with the last two years of the contract being club options worth $16.5 million and $18.5 million.
Baltimore acquired Jiménez in exchange for a left-handed pitching prospect just before the MLB trade deadline on July 30. Chicago also sent $4 million in cash as part of the trade, according to Ronald Blum of AP News.
Since joining the Orioles, Jiménez has thrived, hitting .500 with 4 RBIs in 8 games. Bowden ranked the 27-year-old as the 41st best free agent in his top-50 rankings.
Ryan Fuller: Eloy Jiminez is ‘Working Really Hard in the Cage’
In his 65 appearances with the White Sox this season, Eloy Jiménez had a .240 batting average, hitting 5 home runs and driving in 16 RBIs.
Baltimore’s co-hitting coach, Ryan Fuller, discussed the acquisition of Jiménez and his approach to batting adjustments before an August 11 game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
“If he wants to hit the ball in the air more often, he’s got the power to do it, so he’s putting in the work every day in the cage,” Fuller said. “While we make those adjustments, we’ve encouraged him to keep getting hits and make it look good out there until he starts elevating the ball more consistently.”
Orioles’ manager Brandon Hyde also expressed his admiration for Jiménez after an August 3 win over the Cleveland Guardians.
“Eloy is just a professional hitter, whether it’s against lefties or righties,” Hyde said, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. “He’s won a Silver Slugger before, so he can flat-out hit.”
In an August 8 interview with MASN Sports, Jiménez shared that he’s beginning to feel more settled in with his new team and at the plate.
“I’m starting to feel better, and I’m starting to feel more comfortable,” Jiménez said. “I know good things are going to happen, so I’m just going to keep swinging and playing hard.”
Sometimes, all a professional athlete needs is a change of scenery to find their rhythm. Baltimore is witnessing that firsthand with Jiménez.
Bowden Ranks Corbin Burnes 2nd on Top-50
In the same column where he described Eloy Jiménez’s future with the Orioles as “unlikely,” Jim Bowden also ranked Corbin Burnes as the second-best talent set to hit free agency this winter.
“Corbin Burnes won the National League Cy Young Award with the Brewers in 2021, and now he has a chance to join the elite group of pitchers who have won a Cy Young in both leagues,” Bowden wrote. “He’s currently in a tight race for the American League honor with the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal. Burnes is expected to be the most sought-after pitcher in this free-agent class.”
Burnes, who was acquired in a February trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, has been outstanding in his first season with Baltimore.
The 29-year-old ace has pitched 149.2 innings, allowed 16 home runs, and recorded 137 strikeouts, with a 2.71 ERA as of August 12.