Brewers claim Luis Jimenez from the Angels

The Brewers announced via Twitter today they have claimed third baseman Luis Jimenez from the Angels. Jimenez is a 26 year old right handed hitter. He had been with the Angels since 2008 but only saw limited time in the major leagues. While he hit well in the minors, he only managed a measly 242.276/371 slash line across 151 plate appearances in 51 games between 2013 and 2014.

Marc Hulet of Fangraphs had Jimenez rated as the 12th best prospect in the Angels system going into the 2012 season. Hulet notes Jimenez's burgeoning power and cites his good defense. He also points out Jimenez's hyper aggressive approach at the plate and how it might cause him to warm benches. It seems as though that has become the case.

As far as I can tell Jimenez does have one minor league option remaining so he could start next season in AAA Colorado Springs. (UPDATE: According to this Wikipedia page he was first added to a 40-man roster in 2012 which would mean he's out of minor league options. The Brewers could look to sneak him through waivers after the Rule-5 draft later this year or shortly before the 2015 season begins) I'm sure he'll get an invite to spring training and it's possible he could win a spot on the major league roster.

If the Brewers bring back Aramis Ramirez, which seems likely to me, then it'll be important to have a good number of back-up options at the hot corner. Luis Jimenez adds to that depth. There's always the chance he can still put it together as he's still within his prime years. That's not something we should count on though. If he can become a solid bench player then this a good move. If he doesn't then the Brewers are no worse off than before.

Statistics courtesy of Fangraphs