Ubaldo attempting comeback, joins Rockies on minor-league deal
Ubaldo Jimenez is attempting a comeback with his original franchise.
The veteran right-hander, whose last major-league appearance came in 2017, inked a minor-league contract with the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, the team announced. His deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training.
Jimenez did not pitch at all the past two years following his disastrous final season with the Baltimore Orioles. However, he took the mound for Licey in the Dominican Winter League this offseason and was effective, posting a 3.03 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with 27 strikeouts and 13 walks over eight starts.
Despite not pitching in almost three years, Jimenez told Kyle Newman and Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post that his fastball reached 92-95 mph during his recent starts for Licey.
"I'm pretty confident," he said of his chances in Rockies camp. "I have never hurt my arm. I worked hard with (Colorado's Latin American field coordinator) Edison Lora and he helped get me back in shape. I have been doing this since I was a kid and I've been blessed with a healthy arm, so why not?"
An All-Star with the Rockies in 2010, Jimenez was traded to the Cleveland Indians the following July and never again reached that level of production. In 2014, he inked a four-year, $50-million contract with Baltimore but was worth just 4.8 WAR over the deal's lifespan.
In his most recent big-league season in 2017, Jimenez posted an inflated 6.81 ERA, 5.54 FIP, and 1.59 WHIP in 142 2/3 innings for the Orioles. He also allowed 33 homers and a major-league high 108 earned runs.
The 36-year-old was originally signed by the Rockies in 2001 and pitched for them from 2006-11. He helped the franchise to its only NL pennant as a rookie in 2007, owns the only no-hitter in team history, and remains their all-time leader in ERA (3.66) and WAR (18.7) while ranking second in both strikeouts and WHIP.
Jimenez was one of 21 non-roster players invited to Rockies big-league camp on Wednesday. Other invitees with major-league experience include outfielder Mike Gerber, catcher Drew Butera, and infielder Chris Owings.