Eloy Jiménez DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, designated hitter Eloy Jimenez will have to earn a spot on the bench during spring training. Topkin noted that the newly acquired slugger will likely fight for one of the final bench spots alongside second base prospect Curtis Mead. Jimenez inked a minor-league deal with Tampa Bay earlier in the season. Last season, Jimenez played in 98 games at the major league level, spending time with both the White Sox and Orioles. He posted a .238/.289/.336 slash line with six home runs and three stolen bases. This was a steep decline from the .272/.317/.441 line and the 18 long balls he posted during the 2023 campaign. Despite the drop in production, Jimenez still generated a 49.0 percent hard-hit rate, which placed him in the 90th percentile. Fantasy managers in deeper AL-only formats should monitor his progression during spring training, as he could be a viable target for power if he makes the Opening Day roster.

Free-agent designated hitter Eloy Jimenez and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to a minor-league deal on Monday, according to sources. The 28-year-old played for the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles this past season and is now hoping to rebuild his career with the Rays. The 28-year-old right-handed hitter slashed only .238/.289/.336 with six home runs in 98 total games in 2024 with the White Sox and Orioles and is no lock to make it back to the major-league level, let alone find a significant role in Tampa in 2025. The Dominican outfielder was once a prized prospect in the White Sox system, but injuries have mostly derailed his career -- Jimenez has played in over 100 games at the MLB level just twice, with one of them being his rookie year in 2019, when he hit a career-high 31 homers and drove in 79 runs. He did hit the ball hard last year, but he also was on the injured list twice.

The Baltimore Orioles are declining their 2025 option on designated hitter Eloy Jimenez. Baltimore traded for the 27-year-old at the trade deadline and posted an underwhelming .232/.270/.336 line through his small stint with the Orioles. During the first half of the season in Chicago, Jimenez posted a low .240/.297/.345 slash line. This was the worst campaign of his six-year MLB career. Even though he held a strong 49.0% hard-hit rate, he could not generate much offense from it with a poor 25.1% LA Sweet-Spot%. In addition, he carried a low 6.3% walk rate and a high 33.0% chase rate, which lowered his value in points leagues. Fantasy managers should view Jimenez as a high-risk option for power later in drafts this upcoming season.

The Baltimore Orioles optioned outfielder/designated hitter Eloy Jimenez to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday to make room on the roster for infielder Ryan Mountcastle (wrist), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. Jimenez had to accept the optional assignment due to his service time. Jimenez had a part-time role in Baltimore since they acquired him from the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline at the end of July, and he didn't do much for the O's in 33 games, batting .232 (22-for-95) with only one home run, five doubles, seven RBI, four walks and 23 strikeouts in 100 trips to the plate. It's been all downhill since Jimenez burst onto the scene with a career-high 31 homers and 79 RBI in 122 games for the White Sox in his rookie campaign in 2019, and he's played in over 100 games just once since then. It remains to be seen if Jimenez will rejoin the big-league club for the postseason next week.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder/designated hitter Eloy Jimenez is not in the team's starting lineup on Wednesday at Fenway Park against the division-rival Boston Red Sox. Jimenez finds himself on the bench again in favor of Anthony Santander, who is serving as the DH and batting third against Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta. Austin Slater is in right field and is batting seventh for the O's. Jimenez, 27, continues to see infrequent playing time in Baltimore towards the end of the season. He's now played in 29 games in Baltimore since being acquired in late July by the Chicago White Sox, and he's slashed a mediocre .253/.293/.345 with only one home run, five RBI and seven RBI in his 92 plate appearances. Without frequent playing time in Baltimore, it's hard to recommend holding Jimenez in most mixed fantasy leagues.