The Baltimore Orioles made two additions to their pitching staff today, greatly upgrading a position of need for the 2014 MLB season. FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports that the Orioles have reached an agreement on a four-year deal with free agent right hander Ubaldo Jimenez. Multiple sources believe the deal is for four years and $50 million. The move is pending a physical.
The 30-year-old Jimenez is coming off a solid season, posting a 13-9 record and a 3.30 ERA, and 1.33 WHIP in 182 2/3 innings over 32 starts with the Cleveland Indians while striking out 194 batters.
Jimenez finished third in the National League Cy Young Award voting in 2010 after amassing a 19-8 record with a 2.88 ERA with the Colorado Rockies, but went just 19-30 with a 5.03 ERA over the next two seasons prior to last year’s bounce-back campaign.
The Orioles will give their first round pick in the 2014 MLB Draft to the Indians as compensation for the move, as the Indians qualified Jimenez after last season.
In an earlier move, the Orioles officially announced the signing of South Korean right-hander Suk-min Yoon today. He agreed to a three-year deal worth $5.75 million contract.
Here’s an announcement from Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette:
“We are excited to bring Suk-min Yoon to the organization. He has been a top pitcher in the Korea Baseball Organization and has pitched successfully in international competition. We look forward to his contributions to the Orioles.”
The 27-year-old Yoon has a 3.19 ERA over nine seasons with the KIA Tigers of the Korean Baseball Organization. He was the Korean MVP in 2011. He had a bit of a down year last season with a 4.00 ERA and a 76/28 K/BB ratio in 87 2/3 innings split between the starting rotation and the bullpen. He also pitched in the 2009 and 2013 World Baseball Classic. He is expected to compete for a spot in the rotation, but could be used out of the bullpen if he does not win that Spring Training battle.
Other potential Orioles starters are Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen,Bud Norris, and Miguel Gonzalez.
Ervin Santana becomes the last of the big free agent starting pitchers on the market.
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