Baltimore Orioles pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez is reportedly being discussed in a potential trade ahead of MLB‘s Aug. 1 deadline.
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Jimenez Involved in Melvin Upton Jr. Talks
Friday, July 22
Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported Jimenez could be shipped out of Baltimore in exchange for San Diego Padres outfielder Melvin Upton Jr.
Rosenthal provided salary information for both players involved in the proposed trade:
An argument could be made that Upton would provide a lift to Baltimore’s outfield as it prepares to secure a playoff berth down the stretch, justifying the increased salary the Orioles would take on.
The same can’t be said for Jimenez, who is a shell of the pitcher who at his apex won 19 games for the Colorado Rockies in 2010. He has a 5-9 record with a 7.38 ERA in 2016, so it’s unclear what would implore the Padres to make such a deal.
Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan weighed in on how the trade might be fairer for San Diego with a key revision:
The Padres, who are rebuilding, are on course to miss the playoffs for the 10th straight year. Their pitching is among the worst in baseball, sporting a 4.58 team ERA, per ESPN.com.
If San Diego is intent on acquiring Jimenez, perhaps it has plans to place him in the bullpen. Jimenez may embrace a new role and a fresh start after failing to deliver as a starter in 2016 and being inconsistent throughout his career.
With a unique pitching arsenal featuring a sinker, slider and splitter, per Brooks Baseball, Jimenez is at his best when getting hitters to chase pitches low, which is a good fit for late in ballgames, when one swing of the bat can change everything.
A late-inning reliever spot is something the Orioles should consider Jimenez for if they don’t wind up dealing him.
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