Ubaldo Jimenez is being overpaid by the Orioles.
Jimenez, 30, agreed to a four-year, $48 million contract with the Orioles on Monday, pending a physical. Jimenez went 13-9 with a 3.30 ERA in 32 starts for the Indians in 2013. His September was one to remember, going 4-0, with a 1.09 ERA.
The Orioles are going to want to forget they ever signed Jimenez.
Prior to September of last season, Jimenez was 9-9, with a 3.95 ERA. That one month of success is the reason the Orioles have overpaid for the former all-star. Had he gone 0-4 in September, there is no way the Orioles pay $48 million on a four-year contract.
Did the Orioles forget how inconsistent Jimenez is? After winning 19 games and posting a 2.88 ERA in 2010, Jimenez went 10-13 with a 4.88 ERA in 2011. He lost 17 games in 2012 and was .500 pitcher for the majority of the 2013 season. In fact, including his very good 2013 season, Jimenez is 32-39 with a 4.45 ERA since 2011. He has a 4.45 ERA pitching in the NL West and in the spacious ballpark the Indians have in Cleveland.
Now the Orioles needed to make a move. Chris Tillman is a solid pitcher, having won 16 games and making the all-star team in 2013. However Miguel Gonzalez and Bud Norris are still unproven pitchers. They have potential to be good, middle of the rotation pitchers. But they aren't big names that are going to draw fans to the ballpark. The Orioles needed another pitcher.
But why overpay for Ubaldo Jimenez? Are the Orioles even looking at free agents? They should've spent that money on Ervin Santana. Santana, 31, went 9-10, with a 3.24 ERA in 32 starts for the Royals last season. He has proven to be a more consistent starting pitcher throughout his Major League career than Jimenez.
There are reports that the Orioles are interested in signing Santana, but I wouldn't hold my breath. The team isn't big on signing high priced free agents. After signing Jimenez, there probably isn't room in the Orioles' budget for Santana and that is a disgrace. The Orioles need to prove to their fans that they are willing to spend money on starting pitching. Spending $48 million on a .500 pitcher such as Jimenez isn't spending money; it's throwing away money.
Jimenez is moving to the American League East. Can you imagine his ERA after facing the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays this season. I'd venture to guess his ERA will be around 5.00 this season. Jimenez is too inconsistent and shouldn't be expected to be the pitcher he was last season. The only reason he's getting paid $48 million is because of one September. One September is not worth $48 million. The team is taking too big a gamble on Jimenez and it will end up costing them.
The Orioles need to be smart with their money. It's no good to pay overpay one slightly above average pitchers when you could go out and get two average ones. Matt Garza is still a free agent. Garza, who spent three seasons in the AL East as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays from 2008-2010, went 10-6, with a 3.82 ERA in 2013. The Orioles could go after him. Getting one pitcher is not going to cut it. The team needs multiple pitchers to compete in the AL East.
The Red Sox are the defending World Series champions. The Yankees spent half a billion dollars this off-season to acquire new talent. The Rays have great starting pitching and the Blue Jays aren't going away. If the Orioles want to compete in 2014, they need starting pitching.
They don't need to overpay a career .500 pitcher. Ubaldo Jimenez will not lead the Orioles to the World Series, or the playoffs. It's more likely he'll lead the Orioles to a fourth place finish in the AL East.
$48 million for fourth place. Doesn't that have a nice "World Series" ring to it? No, I guess it doesn't.
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