Jimenez agreed to a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on Friday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jimenez slashed .278/.335/.397 with three home runs in 167 plate appearances with Triple-A Durham in the Rays organization before being released in July. He will give the Blue Jays some experienced depth at Triple-A Buffalo in the corner outfield and at designated hitter.

The Rays released Jimenez on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jimenez has been in the Rays' minor-league system for the entirety of the 2025 campaign, and he's slashed .278/.335/.397 in 167 plate appearances with Triple-A Durham. However, the veteran outfielder has been released and will hit the open market, where he should command some interest from teams willing to take a flier.

Triple-A Durham reinstated Jimenez (Achilles) from its 7-day injured list Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Jimenez didn't play Tuesday in Durham's 15-6 win over Memphis, but he's healthy again after missing the past five weeks with right Achilles tendinitis. Prior to being activated, Jimenez played in eight rehab games in the rookie-level Florida Complex League and went 2-for-21 with six walks.

Jimenez was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Durham on Monday due to right Achilles tendinitis, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jimenez has slashed .270/.331/.369 with two home runs and a 28:13 K:BB over 37 games this season with Durham, splitting time between right field and designated hitter while mixing in some starts at first base and left field. It's not clear how long the 28-year-old might be sidelined.

The Rays reassigned Jimenez to Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

The transaction was fully expected after manager Kevin Cash said Friday that the 28-year-old outfielder/designated hitter wouldn't be included on the Opening Day roster. Jimenez is slated to open the season at Triple-A Durham, but he'll have the ability to opt out of his contract on May 1 and June 1 if a promotion to the big leagues isn't imminent or if he wants to explore his options on the open market.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Friday that Jimenez will not make the Opening Day roster, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cash noted that while Jimenez's bat "started to come to life" recently during Grapefruit League play, it's not going to be enough to crack the Opening Day roster. Jimenez -- who is on a minor-league contract -- will begin the season at Triple-A Durham and "could be huge for us at any point during the season," per Cash.

Jimenez lost 25-to-30 pounds over the offseason, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jimenez had to settle for a minor-league contract with the Rays this offseason following a 2024 campaign that he referred to Sunday as a "disaster." Manager Kevin Cash said that Jimenez is "really, really motivated" and will get some reps in the outfield and even at first base in addition to competing for at-bats at designated hitter.

Jimenez will enter spring training in a competition with Curtis Mead for the final bench spot on the Rays' roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jimenez joined the Rays on a minor-league deal in late December and will earn $2 million if he makes the Opening Day roster. He struggled to get going during the 2024 season, but he had at least a .169 ISO in all of his prior campaigns. While Mead would offer Tampa Bay more defensive versatility, Jimenez has a chance to be the more impactful bat.

The Rays signed Jimenez to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Per Hector Gomez of Z101Digital.com, Jimenez will earn $2 million if he makes the Opening Day roster, with an additional $2 million bonus waiting if he gets to 500 at-bats. Jimenez, 28, slashed only .238/.289/.336 with six home runs over 98 games between the White Sox and Orioles in 2024. He's reached 100 games played just twice in his career and hasn't hit 20 home runs since his rookie season back in 2019. Jimenez did still have a 49 percent hard-hit rate this past season and represents a no-risk, moderate-upside play for the Rays on a minor-league deal.

The Orioles declined Jimenez's $16.5 million club option for 2025 on Saturday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

This past season was Jimenez's worst at the plate in his six-year career, as he slashed just .238/.289/.336 over 324 plate appearances between the White Sox and Orioles. Because of his poor performance, it makes sense that Baltimore would rather pay the 27-year-old's $3 million buyout than give him $16.5 million to join the team's already-crowded lineup.