Orioles demote trade-deadline pickup Eloy Jiménez to minors, get Ryan Mountcastle back from IL

The Baltimore Orioles have demoted designated hitter Eloy Jiménez to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for Ryan Mountcastle, who has been out due to a wrist injury suffered during an Aug. 22 game.

They also released reliever Craig Kimbrel, who was designated for assignment on Wednesday.

Jiménez's time in Baltimore lasted only 33 games after he was acquired from the Chicago White Sox on July 30. He struggled with the Orioles, batting .232 with one home run and seven RBI while striking out 23 times in 95 at-bats.

Jiménez has dealt with injuries throughout his six-season MLB career, including this season, with a left adductor strain and strained left hamstring. The 2023 season, in which he hit .272 with 18 home runs and 64 RBI, was the only year besides his rookie season that he played at least 100 games.

Since appearing in 122 games in 2019, Jiménez has played in 55, 55, 84, 120 and 98 games in each subsequent season.

According to Danielle Allentuck of the Baltimore Banner, the Orioles needed Jiménez's approval to option him to the minors due to his having more than five years of MLB service time. His contract features a $16.5 million team option for 2025 and a $3 million buyout.

Mountcastle is batting .265 with 13 home runs and 61 RBI in 118 games this season.

The Orioles begin a pivotal three-game series against the Yankees on Tuesday in New York.