Orioles decline option on Jiménez, making him a free agent

BALTIMORE -- Entering the offseason with five players holding 2025 team options, the Orioles made their first -- and most obvious -- decision on Saturday.

Baltimore declined Eloy Jiménez’s $16.5 million option for next season, making the 27-year-old designated hitter/outfielder a free agent. He will receive a $3 million buyout.

Jiménez was acquired by the O’s ahead of the 2024 Trade Deadline in a July 30 deal that sent Minor League left-hander Trey McGough to the White Sox. Jiménez, a native of San Domingo, Dominican Republic, had spent his first 5 1/2 MLB seasons in Chicago.

After joining Baltimore, Jiménez had a solid August, slashing .296/.315/.409 with five doubles, one home run and seven RBIs in 23 games. He then went 1-for-24 over 10 games in September, leading to the Orioles optioning him to Triple-A Norfolk on Sept. 24.

Jiménez was not included on the O’s roster for the American League Wild Card Series vs. the Royals, though he was at Camden Yards on the taxi squad.

A right-handed hitter who has struggled to stay healthy for much of his big league career -- though he won an AL Silver Slugger Award in 2020 -- Jiménez will now hit free agency for the first time. He finished the ‘24 season with a .238/.289/.336 slash line, 14 doubles, six homers and 23 RBIs over 98 combined games with the White Sox and Orioles.

There are still four players with 2025 club options on Baltimore’s roster:

• 1B/DH Ryan O'Hearn ($8 million)
• RHP Seranthony Domínguez ($8 million)
• LHP Danny Coulombe ($4 million)
• LHP Cionel Pérez ($2.2 million)

The O’s must decide whether to pick up or decline each of those options by Monday, the first day of the free-agent signing period. They also have until 5 p.m. ET that day to decide whether to extend a $21.05 million qualifying offer to any of their free agents (most notably right-handed ace Corbin Burnes and outfielder Anthony Santander).