Eloy Jiménez To Start Rehab Task

The White Sox introduced at present that designated hitter/outfielder Eloy Jiménez has been despatched to the Arizona Advanced League White Sox on an damage rehab task. Rehab assignments for non-pitchers include a 20-day most earlier than they must be reinstated from the injured checklist, if there’s no well being setback.

Jiménez, 27, suffered a left hamstring pressure about three weeks in the past. Supervisor Pedro Grifol said at that time that Jiménez was going to overlook an “prolonged time period” with out placing a agency timeline on it. Now evidently he’s able to get again into video games and, barring a setback, return to the key league membership by the start of July or maybe sooner.

The timeline is notable since Jiménez is an apparent candidate to be traded earlier than the commerce deadline. The White Sox are deep right into a rebuild, having traded away gamers like Dylan Cease, Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Aaron Bummer, Robbie Grossman, Reynaldo López, Jake Burger and others up to now 12 months. They’ve a dismal file of 17-52 this season, the worst within the majors by a big margin.

Jiménez is within the last assured season of the six-year, $43MM extension he signed with the Sox going into 2019. He’s making $13MM this 12 months after which there are two membership choices. Subsequent 12 months’s is priced at $16.5MM with an $18.5MM choice for 2026, with every of these having a $3MM buyout.

Over the course of that deal, he has proven the power to be a big menace within the lineup, however he has typically struggled to ship on that promise because of accidents. He has a profession slash line of .271/.321/.479, which interprets to a wRC+ of 116, indicating he’s been 16% higher than league common general.

Nonetheless, his 122 video games performed in his rookie season are nonetheless a private finest. Since then, he has solely as soon as hit the 85-game mark. He has hung out on the IL because of a excessive proper ankle sprain, a proper ulnar nerve contusion, a left adductor pressure, a ruptured left pectoral tendon, an appendectomy, a torn hamstring tendon and a number of left hamstring strains.

It’s potential that the compounding accidents are taking a toll on his physique. He slashed .276/.327/.504 from 2019 to 2022 however has hit simply .263/.310/.427 for the reason that begin of 2023, the latter line translating to a wRC+ of 102. Since Jiménez isn’t actually a burner on the bases nor a robust fielder, the lesser offensive output is a blow to his worth.

With the well being issues and his diminished outcomes of late, the curiosity is prone to be muted. What may assist the Sox, nevertheless, is the expanded playoff area. As of this second, the Sox are one among simply 5 golf equipment which are greater than 4.5 video games away from a playoff spot. All different golf equipment should make some tough selections about how a lot to promote or whether or not to do any in any respect. The Rays and Blue Jays are reportedly pushing aside the choice till later whereas Astros common supervisor Dana Brown has mentioned he plans on buying though his membership is close to the again of the playoff race.

The Orioles might reportedly be on the lookout for a right-handed hitting outfielder. The Mariners are main their division however fired their offensive coordinator however of their struggles on the plate. Atlanta misplaced Ronald Acuña Jr. for the 12 months and has been scuffling offensively currently. The Royals have a horrible outfield, one thing that MLBTR’s Steve Adams just lately explored for Front Office subscribers. Groups just like the Cardinals, Guardians, Reds, Rangers, Cubs, Blue Jays and Twins may very well be on the lookout for some additional firepower.

Earlier than any of that may even be a consideration, Jiménez should get wholesome and keep that approach for lengthy sufficient to indicate some promise in opposition to main league pitchers. This 12 months’s commerce deadline is on July 30.