Losing with White Sox "was hard" for Eloy Jimenez, now relishing a meaningful September with O's

BALTIMORE -- Seeing Eloy Jimenez in orange and black takes some getting used to.

Once a face and cornerstone of the White Sox' rebuild that was supposed to produce multiple championships but didn't, Jimenez was unloaded to the Orioles before this year's trade deadline. It was one of the last housecleaning tasks undertaken by general manager Chris Getz as he aims to piece together yet another rebuild.

Jimenez, who had played in 22 of the Orioles 27 games in August, including the last eight, was rested by Orioles manager Brandon Hyde Monday against his former team, which came to Baltimore to open a six-game road trip on the heels of an 0-10 homestand.

“I’m not going to lie. [Playing meaningful games in September] is going to be fun,” Jimenez said Monday.

The only meaningful thing going on for the Sox is an attempt to avoid the 1962 Mets' record of 120 losses.
Jimenez was looking forward to trying to hand his former team, which was 7-46 since he was traded, their 108th loss of the season with 24 to go.

“I’m really excited to see them,” said Jimenez, who visited with former teammates on the field before the game. “But I’m part of the Baltimore Orioles now."

Jimenez played a role in taking the fun out of the Sox' season, contributing a .240/.297/.345 hitting line with five homers in 65 games and missing stretches of two and four weeks due to adductor and hamstring injuries, the latest in a long line of ailments that plagued him since he broke in with the Sox in 2019.

“It is really hard because you don’t want to lose and you don’t play to lose,” Jimenez said of his most recent Sox experience. “It was hard, even when we were winning it felt like we were losing. But I know they’re going to figure it out and they’re going to do a better job next year.”

Time will tell.

In any case, Jimenez has a mixed bag of Sox memories, including Getz sending him with cash considerations to Baltimore for minor league left-hander Trey McGough.

McGough has produced a 2.16 ERA in nine relief innings covering 16 2/3 innings, striking out 24 and walking six batters. One day he’ll tell his grandkids he was traded for a player who signed a $46 million contract.

 The Sox sent the Orioles $4 million as part of the deal. Jimenez had $4.2 million remaining of his $13 million salary. He has a 2025 club option with a $3 million buyout, and the Orioles will pay half if they decline.

“I’ve got a lot of memories,” Jimenez said. “Good. Bad. OK. I was surprised because by that day I didn’t think I was going to get traded. But Getz’s plan was to try to get me here, and I’m here.”

As an Oriole, Jimenez has contributed a .284/.321/.392 hitting line with one homer and five doubles in 25 games as manager Brandon Hyde’s designated hitter. He has one homer, and Orioles hitting coaches are trying to do the same thing with Jimenez as Sox coaches tried, “getting the ball in the air,” Jimenez said.

“We want to win, so I try to do my best every time,” Jimenez said. “And being a part of a winning club makes you, like, adjust to certain things and try to do your best.”