MLB Trade Rumors: Hype for Overrated Ubaldo Jimenez Is Absurd
July 18, 2011 · darcy fournier · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The New York Yankees, the premiere franchise in all of sports and the one team that everyone loves to hate, is seeking pitching help on their way to the playoffs.
Color me shocked—not. Same story every year.
Before the season started, they had to have (read “must have, life depends on it, the sun will turn black and the Mayan prophecy of 2012 will come true”) Cliff Lee or their season was over before it began.
A funny thing happened on their way to opening day…Cliff Lee never signed that dotted line.
We all woke up the next day and as I recall, the sun was indeed yellow.
Six months later, without Lee the Yankees find themselves only 1.5 games out of first with the fourth-best record in baseball.
Imagine that…
The Yankees, after being jilted by Lee, ended up dumpster-diving in the bargain basement of baseball’s arm’s department and fished out Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia to help round out a weak rotation that includes A.J. Burnett, who seems to get roasted for his performance despite the fact that he is doing exactly what his career numbers advertise; he is a career .500-ish pitcher and he is performing like one.
Joining this ragtag, patch-worked rotation is Phil Hughes, an 18-game winner last year that has turned into a huge question mark as we approach the playoffs. And of course, there is the ace, CC Sabathia, without whom the Yankees would be in fourth place and Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi would be working for WB Mason in the delivery department.
Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia, despite recent rocky starts, have saved the Yankees’ bacon thus far this year. In fact, dare I say, the two of them individually have been more valuable than Hughes and Burnett combined and more valuable combined than CC all by himself this season thus far.
However, since this is New York, and not Kansas city, the first sign of trouble sends the masses into major panic. Up in the sky…is that an asteroid?
Cue the trouble.
Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia both have had their expected meltdowns (every pitcher, on every team, in every season has them…this is nothing new except in The Bronx, where it’s always doomsday) thus far to start the second half and Phil Hughes’ return was less than stellar causing the Yankees to drop—wait for it…wait for it—an entire half game in the standings!
The good news? The therapist industry climbed 67 percent in New York, as fans of the Yankees had to be sedated and talked off ledges as a result and I just saved 15 percent on insurance by switching to GEICO.
The Red Sox are now a tremendous 1.5 games up, with only 70 games to go. They are pulling away; they are just obliterating the division!
OH THE HORROR…WE NEED A HERO…SELL THE FARM.
Enter Ubaldo Jimenez…the Young Colorado Rockies flamethrower.
I am not sure but I think his middle name is Jesus, or Christ…I need to check on that.
Apparently, for the right price, he is available and get this: Apparently, he comes with a guarantee of a world series championship.
BRIAN…SELL THE FARM…sell the barn and the cows too!
(Slight pause for absorption…chuckle if you wish.)
Okay, may I get serious now? Look at my profile…I am a Yankees fan and have been for 30 years so save the “Yankee hater stuff” for the Red Sox Trolls in the YES Yankees forums.
Thank you…now back to our regularly scheduled meltdown.
Apparently the Rockies are willing to deal the youngster but for a price—a very stiff price that only a few teams can meet.
The Yankees are one of those teams (surprise) and they have a few chips down on the farm the Rockies covet.
Catcher Jesus Montero, a highly touted prospect that has displayed great potential offensively with just about average skills behind the plate. The Rockies, who would groom him to play first, want him in the conversation but they don’t want him to be the centerpiece.
So, who else would they like in such a deal?
Ivan Nova, a rookie starter that has shown poise in his limited big league starts thus far. The Yankees relied on him when Hughes went down and he “held his own” before being sent back down when Hughes was re-activated. That pretty much tells me that Nova is expendable.
OK…so Montero and Nova for Jimenez? I can live with that. I mean Russel Martin is doing well behind the plate, he is young enough for Romine—in my opinion, a better prospect than Montero—to mature and we do not need another first baseman, so I am OK with Montero going in this deal. Nova? I like the kid, but it’s not like he has been in stripes for years…not emotionally invested yet, so see ya kiddo.
Sounds good Brian. Make the deal.
Ladies and gentleman…your newest Yankee…UUUBAALDOOOO JIMI…
What?
That’s not enough?
They reportedly might want more?
What? They want highly touted pitching prospect Dellin Betances too?
They do realize that while this cat is good, he is not good this year, right?
Well, gee…that’s kinda tight replacing Nova with Betances…wait, what? They want all three?
Four? How the heck did we get to four? Who is this guy, Cy Young and Sandy Koufax’s love child? He is only 10 games over .500 for his career!
Now they want Manuel Banuelos, probably the best pitching prospect in the Yankees system too?
Are you freakin’ kidding me? Look, we like the kid, love his potential—but so far, that is all it is…potential.
Let’s pause to clear the mind…
Let’s leave La La Land for a moment and be somewhat logical in this discussion.
What has Jimenez done to warrant such an expected asking price?
Granted, his season last year was wonderful. Many pitchers have a season like that. In fact, A.J. Burnett comes to mind.
Yes, that Burnett.
Come to think of it, when comparing Burnett and Jimenez by their yearly career averages thus far, Jimenez and Burnett match up a little too close to justify the price tag that is reportedly being demanded.
Burnett’s regular-season average as a starter (all in the AL, which is the tougher league by far)?
Thirteen wins, 12 losses, 4.00 ERA, 216 innings, 193 hits, 92 walks, 193 K’s and a WHIP of 1.37.
Jimenez? (All in the NL.)
Fourteen wins, 11 losses, 3.60 ERA, 212 innings, 178 hits, 92 walks, 191 K’s and a WHIP of 1.27.
Jimenez has slightly better numbers but then again, Burnett has to pitch to DHs in a tougher league.
Considering all, these two are a wash at this point.
Sorry, I am not impressed.
Think about what I just said before you blast me for saying Jimenez is another Burnett, I am saying the possibility is that he won’t be much better, based on the numbers he has put up so far.
Relax…
So I get to ask you: Would you trade four heavily touted prospects, from a farm system of an aging team, to acquire what right now looks to be nothing more than another A.J. Burnett?
Would you trade three?
How about two?
A bag of balls and some Rosin? Oh sorry, I was having a flashback to an old column I did on Carl Pavano during his time in pinstripes…a time Yankee fans call “The Broken Years.”
Granted, no one knows what Jimenez will be after the same number of years that Burnett has logged. Equally, no one knows what Nova, Betances and Banuelos will be either.
Do the math. Does it make sense to trade a possible three Cy Youngs for a possible one?
It is mind-bogglingly ridiculous to me. No, make that asinine.
That is the scary part: The Yankees make stupid, ridiculous and asinine moves.
Players should be evaluated on what they have done up to this point, not what we think they will do.
Based on what he has done thus far, a trade of Nova or Andrew Brackman and Montero seems plausible.
Betances and Banuelos must not be touched.
Jimenez has talent, but seriously, put it into perspective.
He is 10 games over .500 in his career. He is not putting up Zambrano numbers or even King Felix numbers thus far.
The hype over this guy is amazing…amazingly stupid.
Let’s see him win CY Young again, instead of posting a 5-8 record with an era north of 4.00 in the NL and maybe he would be worth the price.
Maybe.
Until then, the Yankees already have a real-life Burnett, don’t need another and if they really need “another Jimenez” as they perceive him to one day be, why settle for one when they have three that can be just as good, if not better, down on the farm already?
The Yankees, in my opinion, unless they can get him cheaply, should pass.
Trust me fellow Yankee fans…the sun will not turn black and you will see tomorrow should Jimenez only appear on the mound at Yankee Stadium in the uniform of the visiting team.
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