Rosenthal says deal done Jimenez (4/$50M - Official)

[LA2]

Here is a pretty good selection of Jiminez highlights...I like it. Although the music is really annoying.

[video=youtube;2Duu_HV6JHc]

Impressive. Thanks for posting this.

[Hank Scorpio]

I like the splitter.

[Ohfan67]

I like the splitter.

Ditto.

[backwardsk]

http://eutawstreetreport.com/why-im-not-sold-on-ubaldo-jimenez/

C'mon Phil. Get excited.

[Rick_Schu]

UBaldomore!

[clapdiddy]

http://eutawstreetreport.com/why-im-not-sold-on-ubaldo-jimenez/

C'mon Phil. Get excited.

I think it's a fair opinion on Jimenez. There is a lot of potential (seems odd to be saying that about a 30 year-old), but there is a chance that he's just "meh".

[crawjo]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Not getting the sense that Jimenez would be handed <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Orioles&src=hash">#Orioles</a> Opening Day nod automatically. He's still compete with Tillman for that.</p>? Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) <a href="

">February 18, 2014</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I kind of feel like we should challenge Jimenez to be the ace of this staff. To pitch like an ace. I really believe he has the talent to do so. That year he put up in Colorado was historic given the park. It's time for Jimenez to seize his own legacy.

[luismatos4prez]

Keith Law's Take on Jimenez Signing (Insider)

The basic gist is he thinks it's a good move at a good price, and he likes that it gives Gausman more time to develop in the minors.

[TonySoprano]

The Baltimore Orioles get a mild bargain in Ubaldo Jimenez -- four years for close to $50 million -- by waiting out the market, although the loss of the 17th overall pick in the 2014 draft stings, and Ubaldo himself is still a volatile asset. That said, I think it's a positive move for them even with the associated risk.

Jimenez spent two-and-a-half years with Cleveland, and the first two years were awful, with a 5.10 ERA in 340 2/3 innings. Early in 2013, however, Cleveland pitching coach Mickey Callaway worked on speeding up Ubaldo's delivery and keeping him more online toward the plate when he strides. There were flashes of the new Ubaldo in the first half of 2013, and in the second half, he was dominant, punching out 100 against 27 walks in 84 innings. In fact, Jimenez allowed more than three runs in only five starts after April.

Hoping for the best

The Ubaldo Jimenez that the Orioles are hoping they'll get is the version we saw in that second half, sitting mid-90s, throwing more strikes, missing more bats with the fastball so he can get to the plus slider and above-average splitter. If you're just grading out the pitches, he'll have outings in which he pitches with three 60s or better, and now he sometimes he can harness that stuff as well. For roughly $12 million a year, it seems like a bargain; the risk here is that Baltimore just guaranteed that salary for four years to a guy who has had, speaking broadly, two good half-seasons in his major league career.

The Orioles weren't going to contend this year without adding some pitching from outside of the organization. Adding Jimenez and Suk-min Yoon may not make them contenders, but the combination of moves helps push them closer to a range where you could see them staying in the wild-card race, something that would become more plausible if, for example, they also signed Ervin Santana or Kendrys Morales.

source - Keith Law, Insider

[Tx Oriole]

Do you think he took it already? We do have to trade someone. Or DFA. Might be something else interesting.

I don't know. That why I was asking?

[TouchemAll]

Roy and I see eye to eye on this one. I think this move mitigates a number of risks and has a big upside if Jiminez is in his top form. Even if he's not, it takes a lot of pressure off the back end of the rotation and gives us more maneuvering room.

Yep Agree

[bobmc]

Tillman might.

Tillman, JustD and weams.... #Ubaldomania

[BradyBunch]

It's one game, who really cares.

It's an honor to pitch opening day for a lot of these guys. It also defines who's your ToR guy.

[lovetoaster]

Stunning development. You can complain about the contract if you want, but I am happy they are taking concrete steps to improve the club. Cheers to DD and the organization.

It's certainly a bold move, and that is something that this team has not done in a long time. It sends a clear message to the players and the fans that we intend to compete. Could it blow up in our faces? Sure, but you have to take risks in order see rewards.

[atomic]

I know why Angelos wanted this guy. He has short hair and no facial hair. Compared to Santana's dreadlocks and pseudo beard it was a no-brainer for Pete. Arroyo has long hair as well.