Orioles demote Eloy Jimenez to Triple-A before critical Yankees series

Struggling designated hitter Eloy Jiménez was optioned to the minors on Tuesday in order for the Orioles to make room on the roster for Ryan Mountcastle.The O’s got Mountcastle back after he suffered a wrist injury on Aug.22 against the Astros. The decision came hours before the Orioles were scheduled to take on the Yankees on Tuesday night in The Bronx. Jiménez had to sign off on the decision due to his service time, according to the Baltimore Banner. Jiménez came over in a deal with the White Sox at the trade deadline and spent just 33 games with the Orioles before they made the roster move. He struggled in his short stint with the Orioles, hitting just .232 with one home run, seven RBIs and 23 strikeouts. Jiménez, was not htting well in Chicago before the trade, and while talented, he’s battled injuries in his career.From 2021-23, he appeared in 53 percent of all possible White Sox games and has averaged 95 games per season over the last five years, though that does not include the shortened 2020 COVID-19 season. There have been flashes of the power hitter he can be — hitting 31 home runs during his rookie season in 2019 and winning a Silver Slugger in 2020.Jiménez has a $16.5 million team option for next season, which does include a $3 million buyout. The Orioles and Yankees play in an important series in The Bronx this week, with the Yanks having the chance to lock up the American League East on Tuesday night....