NEW YORK — The Orioles activated first baseman Ryan Mountcastle from the 10-day injured list Tuesday and optioned designated hitter Eloy Jiménez to Triple-A Norfolk, the team announced. Jiménez had enough service time to decline the minor league option but accepted the assignment to remain in the organization with the playoffs a week away.
Baltimore also released reliever Craig Kimbrel, who was designated for assignment last week. He is now a free agent, though ineligible to pitch for any other team this postseason.
Mountcastle, 27, returns to the Orioles’ active roster after missing 27 games with a left wrist sprain he suffered sliding into second base on a double against the Houston Astros on Aug. 22. He completed a rehabilitation assignment in Norfolk over the weekend just before the Tides’ season ended, going 1-for-11 (.091) with six strikeouts in three games.
Though he was scuffling before landing on the IL, Mountcastle has put together a solid 2024 campaign, slashing .265/.305/.425 with 13 home runs and 61 RBIs. His 29 doubles led the team at the time of his injury and his defense at first base has been missed with Ryan O’Hearn making the majority of the starts in his place.
Jiménez, 27, struggled at the plate after being acquired from the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline. Playing exclusively at the DH spot, the right-handed hitter slashed .232/.270/.316 with one home run in 33 games.
With Norfolk no longer playing games, he will only be a member of the Tides’ roster on paper. MLB rules require optioned players to spend a minimum of 10 days in the minors, making Jiménez ineligible for the wild-card round unless an injury arises.
He’s the second Orioles trade deadline acquisition to be optioned, joining left-hander Trevor Rogers.