Blue Jays Cut Jiménez, Schneider Earns Bench Spot

0:00The Toronto Blue Jays kick off their season Friday night north of the border, defending their American League title. In a last-minute roster tweak, they've designated Infielder Leo Jimenez for assignments to lock in their opening day lineup. Jimenez, who's been in the J-System for nearly a decade, is out of options, paving the way for David Schneider to grab the final bench spot. These tough cuts happen every spring as teams trim down to 26 players. Fans have mixed feelings, with many rooting for the 24-year-old Jimenez to break out after years in the minors. His big league stats in 81 games show a batting average of 207, along with a 303 on base in 332. Slugging, solid defense at shortstop in second base, but offense that never clicked. Schneider steps up with better hitting and key playoff contributions last year, making him a safer bet for the bench. Meanwhile, Jimenez could draw trade interest or waiver claims from teams needing Infiel Depth. His age and glove work might net the Jays a prospect or reliever in return, and plenty of supporters will track his next stop as Toronto dives into.

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