The Toronto Blue Jays did not have much luck in free agency, but were able to swing a blockbuster trade for an All-Star second baseman. However, he has struggled early on.
The Blue Jays traded Spencer Horwitz and Nick Mitchell in a deal for Andrés Giménez last offseason. Giménez was a .261 career hitter with a .715 OPS going into this season. However, he is hitting just .195 this season and is currently on the injured list. While he could be sent to Triple-A for a rehab stint, FanSided’s Edward Eng believes he could be optioned there for a longer period of time.
“Giménez could return at the end of May, but he also has two minor league options remaining, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give him a little more extended time down in the minors as he ramps up his game again,” wrote Eng. “While the Blue Jays didn’t trade for Giménez and the remaining $86.3 million he’s owed in his contract to send him to the minors, he was a black hole when he was in the lineup.”
Giménez signed a seven-year, $106 million deal with the Cleveland Guardians in 2023. He was an All-Star in 2022 and has won three Gold Gloves. He has also won a Platinum Glove. Sending him down to Triple-A amid his struggles would be a shock, but could be necessary.
“This also wouldn’t be the first time that Giménez would be sent to the minors in the middle of a season,” wrote Eng. “In 2021, Cleveland sent Giménez to Triple-A after he hit .179 through his first 29 games. He hit .245 in 39 games after being recalled, and ended up being an All-Star the next year.”
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The Blue Jays are 22-24, and five games back of the New York Yankees for the American League East lead. They are half a game back of the Boston Red Sox for second place. If sending Giménez down helps them play better in the long run, it could be worth it.
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