How Could Eloy Jiménez Fit on the Blue Jays?

Eloy Jiménez was once a promising rookie, blasting 31 home runs in his MLB debut in 2019, but injuries and poor production since then have made him an afterthought. He spent last season in Triple A, mainly with the Tampa Bay Rays' affiliate. 

He was released in July and signed by the Toronto Blue Jays in September to play in Triple-A Buffalo. The now-29-year-old played in six games with the Bisons before the season ended. Over 215 combined plate appearances last season, he hit three home runs, scored 17 runs, and knocked in 30. 

Despite his 82 wRC+ in the minors last season, the Blue Jays decided to bring him back for another year. Jiménez has been hot this spring, slashing .321/.367/.536 with a 131 wRC+ over 30 plate appearances. However, even with that strong start, he will likely begin the season in Triple A. 

According to Blue Jays insider Arden Zwelling of SportsNet, Jiménez is open to that possibility. Zwelling said on his podcast, At The Letters, "It's my understanding that [Jiménez] doesn't have an opt-out at the end of spring training, so he can just go straight to Triple A. And he told me he would go to Triple A."

Barring an injury, this is the best move for the Blue Jays. Jiménez has no clear path to playing time as part of the 26-man roster right now. He is a right-handed bat who can play the corner outfield and possibly learn to play first base, but Toronto already has two righty bats on the bench in Davis Schneider and Myles Straw. There's also switch-hitting backup catcher Tyler Heineman, which would make adding a fourth right-handed bat highly problematic for lineup flexibility. 

Schneider has two options remaining, but he is the only bench infielder currently projected to make the 26-man roster. That said, he could be sent down to open a spot on the bench for Jiménez with the thought that Addison Barger or Ernie Clement could be the infield utility option if needed.

Straw is in the last year of the five-year, $25 million contract he signed in 2022 with the Cleveland Guardians. He has too much MLB service time to be sent down to the minors. That makes Nathan Lukes, who has one option year remaining, the only other player Jiménez could replace. 

Lukes is a left-handed hitter, though, and the Blue Jays would have very little left-handed depth on the bench if Lukes were sent down, besides the switch-hitting Heineman. So, Jiménez replacing Lukes likely won't happen.

The only way for Jiménez to make the Opening Day roster that really makes sense is if we see Schneider sent down to Triple A and Jiménez takes his spot. However, before the 29-year-old could be considered for a job in MLB again, he needs to get his home run swing back. One home run and two RBIs over 30 spring plate appearances isn't the way to prove that you're ready to play at the highest level.