The Orioles have moved righty Ubaldo Jimenez to the bullpen, tweets Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun. The 33-year-old Jimenez is struggling for the second consecutive season, posting a 7.17 ERA, 6.8 K/9 and a way-too-high 5.3 BB/9 in 42 2/3 innings over nine outings so far. Jimenez is in the last season of a four-year, $50MM deal that largely hasn’t worked out for Baltimore. It appears the O’s will go forward with a rotation of Chris Tillman, Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy, Wade Miley, and Alec Asher, who has thrived in a bullpen role this season and who’s set to start tomorrow. Here’s more from the American League.
- The Twins have not seriously considered extending closer Brandon Kintzler, 1500ESPN’s Darren Wolfson tweets. Kintzler is eligible for free agency this winter, so Wolfson suggests he could become a trade chip later this summer. Of course, the Twins are currently, and somewhat surprisingly, in first place, so while they don’t appear to be considering an extension for Kintzler, a trade probably isn’t yet on their radar either. It would perhaps be mildly surprising if the Twins were considering extending Kintzler, since he’ll be 33 in early August. The righty is, however, off to a strong start this season, posting a 1.71 ERA, 2.6 BB/9 and 12 saves, albeit with a modest 5.6 K/9.
- In an expected move, the Athletics have announced that they’ve placed righty Jesse Hahn on the 10-day DL with a right triceps strain. To take his place in their rotation, they’ve recalled righty Jharel Cotton from Triple-A Nashville. Hahn’s recent MRI didn’t reveal any structural damage, although it still appeared likely he’d need to head to the DL. Hahn isn’t the only Athletics starting pitcher to encounter injury trouble lately — Kendall Graveman is dealing with shoulder trouble and could require a DL stint of his own.
- In another expected move, the Red Sox have announced that they’ve promoted lefty Brian Johnson to start today, with righty Ben Taylor heading to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room on their 25-man. As Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal notes, Johnson’s stay in the big leagues could be brief with David Price about to return from the DL. But Johnson has a chance to make a statement to a Red Sox team that has struggled to find good rotation depth this season, with Kyle Kendrick and Hector Velazquez struggling in scattered starts and Henry Owens walking 6.6 batters per nine innings at Pawtucket. Johnson didn’t fare well in one big-league start of his own this season, but he’s pitched well at Triple-A, with a 2.82 ERA, 7.5 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 over 44 2/3 innings there.
When Ubaldo is on , hes an ace. When hes not on, he serves up batting practice. Seems the latter has been trending …
He hasn’t been on in 4 years
Jimenez had a brief stint at the top of the rotation in Colorado, but there are only about seven aces in all of MLB. Jimenez is/was no ace.
Thank God Ubaldo is gone after this season.
They should have traded Owens when they had the chance he reminds me of Paxton Crawford he was untouchable for ever and turned out to be nothing he’s probably more know for falling down his stairs and cutting his back on some glass
Don’t know if he was ever anything more than a kid to dream on. Was drafted as an 18yo with a great curve with a high 80’s fb with the curve little command of. Now? he still can’t control at all the curve, has a good change up with little command of and the fb barely cracks 90.. With little command of as well. he’s throwing the curve less and less.. The main pitch scouts thought would be his ticket to the bigs and that change has become his out pitch, if he had something else hitters would bite at.
I don’t see him as anything other than a AAAA guy.
Release the guy and eat the contract
He should have been gone do not know why the orioles did not spend money and get some help pitching
I don’t understand why they don’t ever address their pitching. It’s been a problem for a long time
Yes, Baltimore needs pitching help. But how are people still saying they aren’t spending money? They have a top ten highest payroll in the majors. They are spending, some of it just hasn’t worked out like they hoped.
well they are spending their money in the wrong places. should have let Davis walk and signed Cespedes. then should have let Trumbo walk and let Mancini play first. That would have saved them close to 100 million.
I had no idea that’s what the Jimenez contract was for. He’s been bad(hurt) since he got there.
At least this move will let O’s audition their minor league pitchers before the trade deadline and see if they need to find a starter from another team.
Second half of 2013 w Cleveland Ubaldo was incredible. 3.0 WAR / 1.82era and his 2.17 FIP was top in baseball to end season. Big reason they won wild card that year.
Edwin Jackson will soon be pitching for the big club. Asher was horrible as a starter on Sunday