The Colorado Rockies have to feel pretty good about themselves right now.
They may be out of the NL West race, though we?ve seen them put together out-of-this-world comebacks late in the season to make the playoffs, but it seems everybody is calling them to inquire about pitching ace Ubaldo Jimenez.
Across the Majors, GMs minds exploded when they heard that the Rockies could possibly be wooed into moving Jimenez. He was a Cy Young candidate last year in his breakout season. The 27-year-old is disappointing mightily this year, but all everybody remembers is last year?s fantastic 19-8 season with a 2.88 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 214 K?s.
This year?s trade market is littered with relievers, but zero season-changing starting pitchers. Except for Jimenez that is, which is why the Rockies are smart to throw his name on the bare market to see what they can net in return.
Of course, the Yankees are expected to be the main player in the Jimenez sweepstakes. New York?s pitching rotation is abysmal aside from CC Sabathia. Ubaldo would give New Yorkers hope for a World Series run this year and the future as he enters the prime of his life.
Naturally, the Rockies essentially want New York?s entire farm system, or at least that?s what it feels like.
?The Rockies suggested to the Yankees in conversations Saturday and Sunday that they seek the four prospects generally considered the best in an organization full of good pitching and catching prospects: catcher Jesus Montero plus pitchers Manuel Banuelos, Dellin Betances and Ivan Nova, people familiar with the talks told SI.com. That fits with Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd's comment to the Denver Post that ?it would take a Herschel Walker deal? to move Jimenez,? according to Sports Illustrated?s Jon Heyman.
Now wouldn?t that be a blockbuster! Could the Yankees afford to ship off their main bargaining chips for a man with a career 3.60 ERA, 1.27 ERA and 56-44 record? Absolutely not.
Would I think about? Of course. The Yanks wouldn?t make such a deal last year for Cliff Lee, but Jimenez is younger and has a fantastic contract over the next few seasons.
Alas, we don?t know for sure if these discussions even took place. Perhaps it would take less or even more than Heyman is reporting!
?Contrary to report, Yankees and Rockies haven't started exchanging names in any Jimenez talks. Odds that NYY/COL work out deal are very slim,? according to ESPN?s Buster Olney on Twitter.
Like last year, the Yankees will be left without a quality pitching staff moving forward for the postseason. They will fail to bring in a season-changing starting pitcher to guide them to the World Series. They will be stuck for the remainder of the year with the pathetic trash that is Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia in addition to the head case A.J. Burnett.
Without a reliable pitching rotation, kiss the season goodbye, New Yorkers. Pitching wins out in the end as we saw with the Giants and Rangers in the World Series last year. The Yankees will not outslug anybody when the opposition is putting up six or seven runs on Colon and Garcia.
If only Sabathia could pitch every day?
-Brandon Galvin is a Bleacher Report Featured Columnist and Syndicated Writer. Follow Him on Twitter.
Justin Falk Robbie Eal Joe Callahan Bryan Allen Mark Cullen Baltimore Orioles
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