White Sox activate slugger Eloy Jimenez from IL

The first-place Chicago White Sox were able to add a bat to the lineup before Friday's trade deadline and didn't have to give up anything in the process. 

According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, the White Sox activated left fielder and designated hitter Eloy Jimenez off the injured list ahead of Monday's matchup against the Kansas City Royals. Jimenez suffered a ruptured left pectoral tendon while attempting to catch a ball during a March spring training game and has been sidelined since. 

In a corresponding roster move, Chicago optioned infielder Jake Burger to Triple-A Charlotte.

It's believed Jimenez will get most of his at-bats as Chicago's DH with rookie Andrew Vaughn patrolling left field. Over his first 177 career regular-season games, Jimenez crushed 45 home runs with 120 RBI, a .276 average and a .848 OPS. 

The White Sox enter Monday evening with a commanding nine-game lead over the second-place Indians in the American League Central standings, and it's rumored Cleveland could be a seller rather than a buyer this week.