The Cleveland Indians are meeting with the agent for Ubaldo Jimenez in hopes that they can begin working out a deal to re-sign the starting pitcher, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Indians meet with Ubalado Jimenez’s agent
While the Indians hope to re-sign Jimenez, they do not see believe Scott Kazmir will stay.
Jason Miller
Let's Go Tribe: Ubaldo Jimenez declines qualifying offer
Jimenez, 29, is coming off by far his best season since the Indians acquired him from the Rockies at the 2011 trade deadline. He made 32 starts in 2013, posting a 3.30 ERA and 1.33 WHIP to go with a career-high 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings. He was particularly effective after a slow start to the season. Following his first four starts, he had a 2.61 ERA and held opponents to a 664 OPS.
The Indians made a qualifying offer to Jimenez, though he turned it down. He is expected to earn much more as one of the most coveted pitchers on the market this offseason. If he does sign elsewhere, Cleveland will at least receive a sandwich pick in the 2014 draft.
Though the team is trying to come to an agreement with Jimenez, the Indians see it as an inevitability that Scott Kazmir will likely sign elsewhere in the offseason. Cleveland wants him back on a one-year deal, but Kazmir is almost certain to receive multi-year offers.
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