The Red Sox and Yankees were tied to Ubaldo Jimenez most closely during the trade season. But out of nowhere tonight, the Cleveland Indians swooped in and put a package together to get Jimenez from the Rockies. The deal hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, but all of the pieces are in place and it’s just a matter of dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s. The package Colorado got was a lot lighter than the one that the Rockies were asking for from the Yankees, and after New York apparently refused to put ANY of their top pitching prospects into the deal, they had to take the Indians’ offer. They acquired pitchers Drew Pomeranz and Alex White, as well as first baseman Matt McBride.
The package put together for Jimenez by the Indians wasn’t just for a rental, as Jimenez’s contract will keep him in Cleveland until 2014, as he’s got a guaranteed deal until 2012 with club option years in 2013 and 2014. The total value of those three seasons of control? Under $18 million. Cleveland had to pay up to get the Rockies ace in their fold, and they did. After a breakout 2010 season that saw Jimenez throw a no hitter, start the All-Star game, win 19 games, and finish with a 2.88 ERA, he’s taken a step back this year. His walk and strikeout rates have remained consistent, but his home run rate has spiked a little bit, which has led to the 4.20 ERA he sports today.
In analyzing the Indians haul, let’s get the ugly out of the way first. Matt McBride is a 26 year old who is mashing in AA Akron after struggling in stints in AAA Columbus over the past two seasons. He’s a nonprospect in the purest sense, clearly just an organizational bat at this point.
Now, it’s time for the sexy pieces: Pomeranz and White. They were the 3 & 4 prospects for Cleveland coming into the season, and with the two players ahead of them both graduating this season, would be the top two prospects in the system. Pomeranz ranked number 35 on Keith Law’s midseason rankings. Because he was signed less than a year ago, he will have to be a player to be named later in the deal…which will be odd, with everyone knowing he’s Colorado property while pitching in the Indians system. He’s a 22 year old who is already pitching in AA after starting the year in the Carolina League. In 91 innings on the season, Pomeranz has struck out 112 while walking 38. He’s also allowed only three home runs. What’s his upside? Well, he was the fifth overall pick in last year’s draft, so you know that the Tribe picked him with the expectation that he’d be a top of the line starter. So far into his career, he hasn’t done anything to shed that label.
White has only thrown 38 2/3 innings this year due to a finger injury, splitting time between the majors and Columbus. He’s struck out 41 while walking 14 this year, but nine of those walks came at the major league level. He was also a high draft pick, #15 overall in the 2009 draft by the Indians. White’s pro debut in 2010 went very well, as he struck out 117 and walked 46 in 150 2/3 innings for Kinston and Akron. White is looking like more of a middle of the rotation starter.
The Rockies aren’t going to contend this year, with injuries ravaging both their offense and pitching staff. Pomeranz, White and Jorge de la Rosa (in his return from Tommy John surgery in 2012) will make a hell of a top three of a rotation, with guys like Jason Hammel filling out the back end of things.
Was it worth it for the Indians? Earlier this week, I detailed how the team had struggled after a hot start to the year. Is Jimenez really what the team needs to push them over the top and win the division? The Indians are two out in the AL Central right now, and this move was designed for them to win now. The rotation has been terrible for Cleveland this year. But White was due to come off the DL in mid-August, and could have provided a nice boost to the staff. They’ve got a hell of a boost now with Jimenez, but now, him and Justin Masterson will have less help coming in the future due to this trade.
UPDATE: the Rockies also acquire pitcher Joe Gardner. He has a 4.99 ERA, 60 strikeouts, and 47 walks in 97 1/3 innings at Akron. Nonprospect.
