Steve Davis: What To Do With Ubaldo Jimenez?
I know the fans think this is a simple question, "Get rid of him," that's what they say the answer is.
I don't think that is happening, not with more than $20 million left on his contract. Not yet, anyway. And not with a guaranteed solution ready to go. If the Orioles had a couple minor leaguers blowing hitters away in the minors and ready to go here, that would be one thing. But, they don't.
Sure, Vance Worley seems like a better option right now. However, he was available on the cheap for a reason. His track is just so-so. When Gallardo comes back, hopefully he pitches well, and then somebody has to leave the rotation. Wright and Wilson both have options. They've been pretty good, certainly better than Jimenez, but not lights out. They may or may not be legit major league starters. It's way too early to tell. My point is that while I would rather not have Jimenez in the rotation, or on the team, there's no guarantee that there's anyone you can put in there that deserves to be in your rotation. I would love it if Jimenez, who is a great guy, would do what's best for the team and go to the minors for a few weeks and try to figure things out. He doesn't appear to be likely to do it, which will hurt the Orioles.
It is hard to imagine that he can help this team out, and right now, he is really hurting them. Maybe he can come up with a phantom injury to buy them some time, but that isn't a sure thing either. So, while the best options seem to be eating the contract or having him go to the minors, fans may just have to grin and bear it and hope he turns it around, even a little.
Unfortunately, that seems to be an unlikely scenario.
