Former Blue Jays outfielder Eloy Jiménez and shortstop Rafael Lantigua have reportedly signed respective minor league deals with the Toronto Blue Jays.
MLB insider and broadcaster Mike Rodriguez posted on social media earlier today that both Jiménez and Lantigua have reached an agreement with Toronto on the MiLB contracts, with each player receiving an invitation to spring training.
Once considered an up-and-coming outfielder, Jiménez showed off power with the Chicago White Sox between 2019 and 2023, despite his high strikeout rate. After being traded to the Baltimore Orioles at the 2024 trade deadline, the now-29-year-old signed a minor-league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays in December 2024 until he was released on July 12, 2025.
Jiménez then signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on September 1st and played for the Buffalo Bisons. During his short tenure, the outfielder recorded 18 at-bats with one double and slashed .167/.286/.222.
Including his time with the Rays in 2025, Jiménez posted a .247 average and a .673 OPS with three home runs, 30 RBIs, and one stolen base in 190 at-bats. He joins the growing list of potential outfielders looking for a spot on the big league team. Jiménez last appeared in the big leagues in 2024.
According to my sources, Eloy Jiménez has just reached an agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays. The deal is a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League spring training. #EloyJimenez #Toronto pic.twitter.com/YWcIiuaS0D
— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) January 11, 2026
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Lantigua has primarily spent his pro career in the Blue Jays system, signing with the club as an international free agent in 2016. Since then, the infielder played up until the Triple-A level and earned MiLB All-Star recognition in 2023.
After electing free agency on November 4, 2024, the Philadelphia Phillies signed him to a minor-league contract a month later. The 27-year-old played second base in the Phillies’ Triple-A team (Lehigh Valley IronPigs) during the 2025 campaign and slashed .230/.356/.330 with seven home runs and 56 RBIs in 400 at-bats. He was called up to the Phillies’ big league squad on September 16th, but did not see the field before being optioned back down on September 19th.
Overall, Lantigua has amassed a .270/.368/.389 slash line with 166 doubles and 46 home runs in 3,357 plate appearances across eight minor league seasons, which indicates the potential for becoming a key taxi squad member who can be called up to the big leagues for additional depth.
Lantigua’s strength lies in playing all over the infield: he plays second base, shortstop and third base. This makes the Dominican infielder into a great Triple-A depth player with a light hit tool for the Blue Jays as they prepare for the 2026 season.
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