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November 12, 2014Ubaldo Jimenez, the man who gave us two years of trash and four months of treasure appears to be on the market once again, at least according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman.
And while waiting for any updates surrounding Cleveland Indians ace Corey Kluber winning the 2014 Cy Young, and fending off the notion that I’m supposed to care about Kevin Love’s contract situation, this tweet came through my timeline early Wednesday morning—and I almost fell out of my chair when I saw it:
There’s interest in Ubaldo, who’s available. return to Cleveland. Would make sense. http://t.co/QePsykgNiF
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) November 12, 2014
Then I thought about this scene for the horrific mistake that was “The Godfather III.”
Cleveland Indians GM Chris Antonetti never made any serious overtures towards re-signing Jimenez after he helped pitch the Indians to a Wild Card spot in 2013. Kid Chris knew he was a free agent to be and with the way he pitched down the stretch, offering him the then-$14.1 million Qualifying Offer was a no-brainer. The Tribe brass also knew he wouldn’t take it, therefore locking in an extra first-round draft pick. With a guy like Edwin Jackson getting Four years and $52 million on the open market a year before, Ubaldo was smart enough to know someone would pay him, one way or another. It just wasn’t going to be the Indians.
Without the watchful eye of Mickey Callaway, who helped re-invent him into a top level starter, Ubaldo floundered in Baltimore after signing a four-year, $50 million contract. The bandbox known as Oriole Park at Camden Yards was not a good place for him. Command issues returned and his confidence was shaken as the Orioles removed him from their rotation and eventually left him off of their playoff roster. Essentially 2014 Ubaldo was 2011-12 Cleveland Ubaldo; a guy that would have trouble staying on as a fifth starter in the American League.
Now Baltimore wants to move him.
Heyman suggests that the Indians “make sense” as a landing spot for Jimenez. While you may say to yourself “hey, the Tribe has their five starters already locked in,” you can never have enough starting pitching. As nails as T.J. House was over his last nine starts, his future is still unknown. What happens if someone goes down to injury? The next men up are still Zach McAllister and Josh Tomlin. Z Mac may find himself in the pen and turn himself into a Wade Davis type — a failed starter who gained velocity and a home in the late innings. Tomlin I think we have seen the best of him already. You need more of a pipeline that what the Wahoos currently have.
You are probably also thinking to yourself “why in the heck would we ever want to bring Jimenez back here, especially when his contract still has three years and $37.5 million left on his deal?” I have three words for you: Mickey Freaking Callaway. A reunion with the guy who assisted him and he credits for helping resurrect his career (and subsequently getting him PAID) could be a great thing for both Jimenez and for the Indians. Then again, Ubaldo’s great stretch drive may just be a flash of brilliance. With that said, if he is somewhere in the middle of the two, he could be an asset.
Now the cost is what is going to be up for a big time debate. I’m sure if the Indians wanted him now and didn’t care about the money, they could take on Ubaldo for next to nothing. I am sure the Orioles would love to rid themselves of that bad deal. Here is another interesting thought: right now, Baltimore GM Dan Duquette is sitting and waiting on OF/DH Nelson Cruz to make up his mind on a reported three-year contract that is said to be in his hand. Should Cruz balk and wind up somewhere else, would he consider taking back Nick Swisher for Ubaldo? The money is relatively close — Ubaldo is owed $37.5 over the next three years while Swish is still owed $30 million over two seasons — and the Orioles could have a hole in their lineup. Chris Davis will be returning from suspension but Cruz bumped between DH and the outfield. Swish could find a rebirth in the hitters haven at Camden Yards if he can stay healthy while DH’ing and playing some first base. It is not that crazy of a thought.
Just putting it out there. The truth is I really don’t know how I would feel about a return of Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland. The guy frustrated me to no end during his time here, but he more than made up for it as the ace of the staff in 2013. The Callaway/Jimenez re-marriage though could be next level stuff if they could find that magic again.
20 Comments
I reported this in the “While we are waiting” section but I still find it enjoyable. If it happens I simply cannot wait for Indians speak about it!
ugh
No thank you. Unless Baltimore eats a lot of that salary. Not even if they take Swisher. With Swish, you can at least point to obvious reasons for his poor 2014 (health). Ubaldo is just a headcase. I’d rather see a Masterson return since he’ll be cheap.
Just politely say “no,” then turn and slowly walk away.
As for Godfather III, the only horrific mistake was the casting – but the terrible casting really influences the movie in a very negative way. The story wasn’t all that bad, and the ending was beautiful. Sofia Coppola might have some chops as a director, but she might also be one of the worst actors ever. Francis Ford should have also politely said “no” to nepotism, and then turned and slowly walked away.
No reason to be polite about it.
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/l30.gif
Yeah. Get rid of Swishers corpse. At least we could right the ship with Ubaldo and flip him for something else. Swisher is clearly done in this league. Ubaldo can still pitch, with the right tutelage.
I’d trade for him in his next contract year. Until then, pass.
Good thing about Masterson is you can stick him in the bullpen as well. Which is exactly where he should be pitching.
Bringing back Masterson is a very Indians move. It makes some logical sense, but it also sure seems like spinning our own wheels.
Any interest in a Swisher-Ubaldo trade?
the casting wasn’t all horrible. But the script sure was. Totally devoid of the stateliness, the ambience of a different world, even the occasional impish humor of the first two. Once Coppola shrunk the noble larger than life anti-hero to a weakened and ambivalent nothing the feel and point was gone. I hadn’t seen it in many years but so often heard “it’s not that bad” that I watched again this year. It’s that bad. Doesn’t age well and imo wouldn’t be thought of much at all if not part of the trilogy.
It’s bad, but it’s not that bad. (Taste being what it is.)
I would definitely trade Swisher straight up for Baldy.
Santana’s rise at first leaves us hoping that a recovering Swisher can regain his very average 2013 numbers, but as a DH. With Callaway, Ubaldo has a shot at becoming an elite starting pitcher. Not likely, but his potential is much higher than Swisher’s.
Also, like the article said, we need another starter and this move would actually decrease our payroll this year by $3 million, allowing us to upgrade the offense.
I agree with Harv that it is that bad. The idea of having the trilogy complete the circle of life for “The Family” was a good one. However, focusing on Michael instead of having him be a secondary part of the story while “The Next Michael” came up the ranks would have been a better plotline.
3 depressing hours of Michael losing grips on everything that he had worked to gain may be life’s reality, but it sure doesn’t make a good movie.
It’s bad, but it’s not that bad.
I think I was the first person to put this one out there on the Cleveland.com Tribe forum and in the Plain Dealer / cleveland.com article comments section. The biggest problem I have with Swisher staying in Cleveland is wherever he plays he is probably a downgrade to what we already have. Murphy in right field led the team in slugging percentage with runners in scoring position and was barely behind Brantley in OPS with runners in scoring position.
Santana at first is an upgrade over Swisher. The team played better after Swisher went on the D.L. as well. Why would Baltimore want Swisher? His career OBP of .353 is desperately needed on a Baltimore team that had no walk guys on it and had a team OBP of just .311 Lets not forget the reason Bumgarner looked like a hall of famer against the Royals is the Royals are the same type of free swinging team as Baltimore (but with less power) and that means they are not that good at driving up pitch counts against pitchers who dominate them.
For the Indians Ubaldo actually pitched well over the final five months of his last season in Cleveland, not four, and if Ubaldo can’t get it going it was at least a shot at helping the starting pitching.
If the Indians keep Swisher, I would platoon him with Raburn at DH because Raburn is one outfield dive on his knees away from a return to the D.L. and I’d put Swisher occasionally at first base assuming he can now bend over with his surgically repaired knees. That is just not enough value. I think both teams improve if this trade is made (and that’s assuming Cruz is not coming back to Baltimore)
And where do you put Swisher where he is not a downgrade to what the Indians already have?
Sofia was not the first choice. The first choice walked away, Keira Knightly, claiming she was too exhausted and needed a break from working too many movies back to back. Luckily they did not put the head of another actor in her bed to get her to change her mind.
I agree and while I hope Masterson isn’t brought back if I had to choose between him and Ubaldo I’d take Justin. But only if he stays in the bullpen. How about Masterson as a setup guy? His stuff is far better suited for that role then as a SP IMO.
hanging out with mickey callaway in seattle last year at the team’s hotel during the last season swing through the pacific northwest… asked him about ubaldo and his struggles – he literally said, “i could fix him in 10 minutes”
no joke – this guy is the mechanics whisperer. i dont doubt him.
if they could get ubaldo cheap id be willing to take a flier