Eloy Jimenez Traded to Baltimore Orioles
The Chicago White Sox have traded outfielder Eloy Jimenez to the Baltimore Orioles in a deal that sends minor league left-hander Trey McGough to Chicago. The move is widely seen as a salary dump for the White Sox, who are in the midst of a disastrous season.
Jimenez, 27, is making more than $13 million this season and has two club options with $3 million in buyouts left on his contract. The White Sox were likely motivated to move Jimenez in order to clear salary and remove a player from a clubhouse that has been responsible for an absolutely disastrous season.
Jimenez's Struggles in Chicago
Jimenez has struggled to live up to expectations in Chicago since being acquired in a trade from the Cubs in 2017. He has never played more than 122 games in a season and has not surpassed 18 homers since his rookie year in 2019.
Injuries have been a major problem for Jimenez, who has spent time on the injured list with a left adductor strain and strained left hamstring this season. He has gone on the injured list eight times during his White Sox career.
Opportunity in Baltimore
The Orioles are hoping that a change of scenery will help Jimenez revive his career. He is still young enough to turn things around and has shown flashes of his potential in the past.
The Orioles' DH spot is mostly occupied by Ryan O'Hearn, but they also use it to keep Adley Rutschman's bat in the lineup when he's not catching. It will be interesting to see how the Orioles massage Jimenez into their plans, as they try to balance getting him back on track with winning as many games as they can in the meantime.
Trey McGough: A Promising Prospect
In exchange for Jimenez, the White Sox receive reliever Trey McGough, a promising prospect who has pitched well in the Orioles' system this season. The right-hander has a 1.99 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings between Double-A and Single-A.
McGough was selected in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft and pitched at Mount St. Mary's. He has the potential to be a valuable addition to the White Sox bullpen.
Conclusion
The trade of Eloy Jimenez from the Chicago White Sox to the Baltimore Orioles is a move that could benefit both teams. The Orioles are getting a young player with plenty of upside, while the White Sox are shedding salary and removing a player from a clubhouse that has been responsible for an absolutely disastrous season.
