Leo Jiménez designated for assignment by Marlins

It sounds like the 25-year-old infielder was going to elect free agency anyways if the Marlins tried to send him outright to Triple-A Jacksonville, so they’ll just set him free instead. Jiménez slashed a miserable .199/.306/.259 in his 194 plate appearances with the Marlins. If he latches on elsewhere, it will almost assuredly have to be on a minor league pact.

While Conine has been a fixture in the middle of the Marlins’ lineup since returning from the injured list, he’ll get a day off in this one with left-hander Nick Lodolo toeing the slab for the Reds. Leo Jimenez will start in his place at the cold corner and will bat sixth for the Marlins.

Lopez took a groundball off his finger on Saturday and has had a little discomfort holding a bat. His finger is taped, and he said he could be available off the bench on Sunday, which makes us believe this should not be a long-term situation. Javier Sanoja will start at shortstop in his place while Leo Jimenez starts at third base and will bat sixth for the Fish against Brewers’ left-hander Robert Gasser.

The 25-year-old infielder had been sidelined since May 21 due to concussion symptoms. He returns to a .227/.327/.250 slash line with zero homers and one RBI in his first 52 plate appearances with the Marlins. Graham Pauley was optioned back to Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move on Friday.

Jiménez will need to miss at least a week with his head injury. The 25-year-old will be replaced on the active roster by Graham Pauley, with Pauley getting a promotion from Triple-A Jacksonville in the corresponding transaction.

The right-handed-hitting Jiménez was limited to playing against lefties previously, but since Graham Pauley got sent down, he’s started three of the Marlins’ five games against righties. He did collect three hits last night, which was probably why he was back in there today, but the DH spot really isn’t being optimized while being filled by a utilityman with a career .211/.309/.322 line in 283 major league plate appearances. The Marlins will probably keep mixing and matching until Griffin Conine comes off the IL or Agustín Ramírez returns from exile.

It appears to be nothing more than a routine night off for the speedy 26-year-old infielder. Leo Jimenez will start in his place at second base and will bat eighth against Orioles’ southpaw Cade Povich on Thursday night in Miami.

The positive news here is that X-rays came back negative after Jiménez was removed from Wednesday afternoon’s contest against the Cardinals. It sounds like he’ll avoid a trip to the injured list.

No word yet on the reason for the move. Leo Jiménez takes over at shortstop in his place to face Reds starter Brady Singer.

The Marlins designated Garrett Acton for assignment in a corresponding move to clear a spot on the team’s active roster. Jiménez, 24, is out of minor league options so he’ll get an immediate opportunity to show what he can do in a reserve role at the big league level for the Fish.