Ubaldo is?.Carmona
When the Indians traded four prospects, including their top two pitching prospects, for right-handed starter Ubaldo Jimenez last July, they thought they were getting an ace. A top of the rotation pitcher that could be a good number one or two starter to team up with right-handed starter Justin Masterson and make a formidable one-two punch at the top of their rotation.
Well, based on Jimenez?s performance with the Rockies prior to last year?s trade (6-9, 4.46 ERA, 21 starts), his performance with the Indians after the trade (4-4, 5.10 ERA, 11 starts), and his performance so far this season (2-1, 4.50 ERA, 4 starts), he has been anything but a front line starting pitcher.
In fact, the Indians may have simply traded for another version of right-hander starter Fausto Carmona. A guy who at times dazzled with great stuff and had unbelievable untapped talent, but often had erratic command and a lack of mental focus that led to high pitch counts and a roller coaster ride from outing to outing. Carmona turned out to be Roberto Hernandez, but who is Jimenez?
At this point Jimenez has underwhelmed so far while with the Indians, and there are no signs that he is starting to put things together. He simply may be what he is at this point, a number three or number four starter in the rotation. He actually would be good in that role, but the problem is considering the expectations put on him with what the Indians and fans were expecting out of him and also the cost to acquire him, that is not good enough.
Jimenez is under control through the 2014 season, though his $8 million option for that season is a player option. Even with the way he is pitching, he can probably make more as middle of the rotation starters still get $10 million or more a season in free agency. With that in mind, he may only have the rest of this season and all of next season for him to turn it around with the Indians and make the trade worthwhile.
