Maybe the New York Yankees do have a shot at Colorado Rockies right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez. The Denver Post reported recently that the Rockies were not shopping the talented 27-year-old former All-Star, who won 19 games a season ago. Friday afternoon, however, the New York Post reported that the Yankees "have a better than average chance" of acquiring Jimenez, probably the best starting pitcher who might be available at the trade deadline.
This is how the trade deadline goes. Stories change by the hour, and depending on what reports you are reading.
According to the Post, the Rockies may soon decide that they will be sellers at the deadline, and would like to acquire top-shelf prospects. More from the Post:
According to a person familiar with the Rockies’ mindset, they believe Jimenez has pouted this year because Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez received contract extensions and he didn’t.
"They are annoyed at him,’’ the source said of Jimenez, who is 5-8 with a 4.08 ERA but pitching better lately after starting the season 0-5.
In Jimenez’s past six starts he is 4-1 with a 3.05 ERA. That’s quite an improvement from the beginning of the season when he went 0-5 with a 5.86 ERA and didn’t post his first victory until June 1.
The Yankees have to be concerned about veteran Bartolo Colon, who did not get out of the first inning Monday, as well as what they can get from Phil Hughes. The chance to acquire a 27-year-old front-line starting pitcher might be enough to convince general manager Brian Cashman to part with some of the organization's top-flight talent.