Rays sign former White Sox Silver Slugger to minor league deal

The Rays front office has finally responded to the constant outcry for offensive help in their lineup. However, this signing won't necessarily give the Rays instant relief as the deal is intended for the minor leagues. Although, with the guidance of the coaching staff and a boost of his confidence in the farm system, this transaction could prove to be a difference maker for the Rays.

Rays sign OF/DH Eloy Jimenez to a minor league deal

Eloy Jimenez has agreed to a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. The power-hitting outfielder has dropped off in his production since he emerged as a top prospect in 2019. There was a ton of hype around this 6-4 Dominican phenom.

As a member of the Chicago White Sox in his debut season, Jimenez slashed .267/.315/.513 with 31 home runs. The slugger also finished 4th in AL Rookie of the Year voting that year, behind Rays star second baseman, Brandon Lowe, John Means, and the 2019 award winner, Yordan Alvarez.

Jimenez saw improvement in the shortened 2020 campaign as he hit .296, finishing 4th among AL outfielders. However, the power numbers (which are certainly his calling card) started to dwindle, as the right-handed hitter was never able to surpass 20 homers again.

In 2024, Jimenez battled through minor injuries to his adductor and hamstring, which definitely affected his ability to gain footing with his bat. Therefore, the right fielder was dealt to the Baltimore Orioles as part of the White Sox desperate house cleaning. A new environment was thought to possibly revive the powerful batter, but instead he faltered even more. Jimenez slashed .232/.270/.316 with only one home run in 33 games with the Orioles.

The acquisition of Eloy Jimenez for the Rays is a low-risk move due to how inexpensive he is, and the reward is potentially very high if they can tap into what gave him success early on in his career. Nonetheless, fans will question: how does the 28-year old fit into the Rays lineup?

First of all, this deal expresses that he will start the 2025 season in the minor leagues, most likely Triple-A Durham. Although, the addition of Jimenez will automatically invoke competition among the Rays outfielders and hitters as a whole. Therefore, it will come down to winning spots out of Spring Training for the Rays position players. This is a great way to decide a roster and lineup setup because it brings the best out of the athletes. It's difficult to know if Eloy Jimenez will be able to help the Rays next season, but he will certainly get an opportunity to win a role within the roster.