MLB Trade Rumors suggests the O's are shopping Ubaldo Jimenez and are willing to eat some of the 38.75 million he is due over the next 3 years, or possibly swap a bad contract. Should the Twins be interested? I don't think they are looking for another bad pitching contract (Nolasco), but maybe they could take on some salary and we could trade a few mid level prospects for this relatively young, successful starting pitcher with a good career K rate? His walk rate was alarmingly bad this year, but I think well above his career average.

Jimenez had one good year in the last 4. I do not know if Callaway in Cleveland had him doing something different that year, or if Cash or Belcher had any influence on the one good season. Cash might be a good hire as a pitching coach, but Jimenez might not be a good hire as a pitcher.

I won't mind if they try another reclamation project, but Ubaldo is going to cost a lot of money for a pretty big gamble.  I guess I would do it if the O's ate a huge chunk of that contract but that would probably take giving up a decent prospect and that's probably a waste of a prospect. 

So here's the question for the Twins Daily readers:

 

Would you swap Ricky Nolasco and his contract for Ubaldo Jimenez and his contract? The contracts are very close to the same. They both have three years left. What say you?

 

I think I'd role with Nolasco as I think he's much more likely to rebound to be solid. 

I'd rather have Nolasco than Jimenez. No question there. I'd rather not have both!

Nolasco is more likely to be good than Jimenez. Jimenez has a higher ceiling, but it is rarely reached. I take Ricky.

Getting Ubaldo would be a bad idea.  There are so many other players who are better who are available. How about Mike Leake, Jon Niese,  or better yet Kazmir, these guys are 8-11 million on a 1 year deal. (except Niese) Then they along with a bunch of other pitchers will be free agents and we can have a bunch of options available to us. 

I'd rather have Nolasco than Jimenez. No question there. I'd rather not have both!

 

I would roll with Ubaldo Jimenez, still a little bit younger and to me has a higher ceiling than Nolasco. I just do not see Nolasco rebounding with the Twins, and him not wanting to be here doesn't help matters.

 

 

I love that glunn likes both of these - nothing like covering all the bases!

I love that glunn likes both of these - nothing like covering all the bases!

 

As a moderator I like almost every post when the topic is interesting and people are being polite.  

Say no to Jimenez.  Too much risk, not enough reward.  Maybe the right pitching coach could straighten him out, his best place may be Pittsburg

I guess I'm overly sensitive, but I'm still kind of bothered by Nolasco telling a Twitter follower that he wishes he was still a Dodger.  I know he'd say it was "taken out of context" but it didn't sit well with me.  So I'd take Jimenez to get rid of Nolasco.  But basically I agree with those who would rather have neither!

At this point, knowing what we know about both players, I'd take Nolasco. Jimenez has been wildly inconsistent and while he has more tools than Nolasco, he doesn't seem to tap into them very well.

 

However, if you would have posed the same question this time last year, I would have said Jimenez  by far...so, what do I know?

Too much money for too many inconsistent seasons. Plus, he'd cost a prospect to acquire and the more money the Orioles eat, the better the prospect they'll demand. No thanks, pass.