There is no disputing the fact Andres Gimenez is a world-class defensive infielder.
The Toronto Blue Jays second baseman may be an even better shortstop.
Gimenez won three Gold Gloves while playing second base for the Cleveland Guardians.
He won those awards in 2022, 2023, and 2024. He won a coveted American League Platinum Glove in 2024.
The Platinum Glove is awarded to the best overall defensive player in each league.
The left-handed hitting Gimenez, 26, is now playing for his third major league baseball franchise.
Gimenez was signed by the New York Mets as an international free agent shortstop from Venezuela, in 2015.
The Mets gave Gimenez a $1.2 signing bonus.
In January 2021, when Cleveland made their All Star shortstop, Francisco Lindor available in trade, the Mets swapped Gimenez, and infielder Amed Rosario to Cleveland.
In 2022, Gimenez enjoyed an All Star season with Cleveland, at the plate and in the field. He hit .297/.371/.466/.837, with 26 doubles, three triples, 17 homers, and 20 stolen bases in 557 plate appearances, covering 146 games.
The Guardians rewarded Gimenez with a 7-year, $106.5 million contract, which runs from 2023-2029.
The contract pays Gimenez the following:
2025=$10,571,429
2026=$15,571.429
2027=$23,571,429
2028=$23.571,429
2029-$23,571.429
There is a club option for 2030, at $23 million.
That lengthy, expensive contract has played a crucial role in Gimenez’ career path.
Gimenez has never duplicated the offensive success he enjoyed in 2022.
His overall production, and clutch hitting have declined significantly.
In fact, in his 2024 season with Cleveland, Gimenez hit a “light” .252/.298/.340/.638, with 22 doubles, one triple, nine home runs, and 63 RBIs in 633 plate appearances. He stole 30 bases.
While Gimenez was still a Gold Glove defender, the Guardians became wary of the remaining length and value of his contract.
On December 10, 2024, the Guardians traded Gimenez to the Blue Jays, his third team.
The trade was a shocker to fans, and probably to Gimenez’ teammates.
Gimenez was considered a focal point of the Guardians, and his presence on the club until 2029 was considered a given.
Gimenez, and fellow Venezuelan Jose Ramirez had a close bond. It seemed from the outside that Gimenez and Ramirez would always be the center of Guardians baseball.
It was not to be.
In December, Gimenez went to the Blue Jays for infielder Spencer Horwitz. Horwitz could play both second base and first base.
The Guardians then traded Horwitz as part of a 3-team trade. Horwitz went from Cleveland to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pitchers Josh Harte, Michael Kennedy, and Luis Ortiz went from Pittsburgh to Cleveland. Pitcher Nick Sandlin went from Cleveland to Toronto.
For the Guardians, Ortiz, a hard-throwing right hander, was the key to the Horwitz trade to Pittsburgh.
For the Blue Jays, Gimenez would provide them with stellar, Gold Glove defense for years to come.
And maybe, just maybe, Gimenez could return to his 2022 Cleveland hitting success.
And Gimenez can steal bases for Toronto.
So far, it hasn’t happened.
At the start of play May 7, Gimenez was hitting only .192/.271/.304/.575, with five doubles, no triples, three home runs at 10 RBIs in 140 plate appearances. He had stolen nine bases.
Gimenez did get five key hits in a recent Blue Jays series against his former team, the Guardians.
Gimenez remains a Gold Glove defender at second base.
Now, it is the Blue Jays who must assume the remainder of his lengthy, expensive contract.
Now, it is the Blue Jays who must determine if their plans include Gimenez? Or do they try to trade him, and perhaps pay down part of his remaining contract for a new team ?
For Andres Gimenez, he hopes to find the hitting mechanics that helped spur a 7-year contract in the first place.
