He's not a starting caliber player even with the defense. Projected for a 2.5 WAR by the end of the season but they are expecting a 90+ wRC+ from him during that span, and I think that's a big reach at this point. The sample size for him being a bad hitter is far greater now, and he's not stealing bases like he did previously (maybe due to injuries) so he's not even adding that much value there. I know JS values vetrin presents more than skill sometimes, but at the very least he has to accept that Gimenez is a platoon bat and stick someone else at 2B/SS against LHP. He has a 52 wRC+ against LHP since 2024.
Atkins absorbing over $100M in guaranteed money for Gimenez and Straw has to be investigated. No other GM on the planet, regardless of available payroll, would have done that, much less given up an asset (Horwitz) in the process. At least Straw had a good 2025, and Gimenez had some big hits in the playoffs last year.