According to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com, the Red Sox have expressed interest in Colorado Rockies right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez.
Jimenez went 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA last season but is just 5-8 with a 4.08 ERA this year. With that said, he hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in a start since the beginning of June.
The 27-year-old is signed under team-friendly contracts of $2.8 million in 2011 and $4.2 million in 2012. He has club options in his contract of $5.75 million in 2013 and $8 million in 2014.
Despite Boston’s preliminary interest in the righty, Knobler believes that two other teams have the inside track:
“People familiar with the Rockies plans believe that the Reds and Rangers would have a better chance of landing the ace. Both Cincinnati and Texas are said to have enough young talent to motivate the Rockies to make a deal.”
The Yankees have been linked to Jimenez since his name first appeared on the trading block, but the Rockies would reportedly have to be blown away to deal him.
Sources tell ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick that Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd is merely trying to gauge the pitcher’s value on the market.
The Tigers are another team which has inquired about Jimenez.
Alastair Ingram is the lead Boston Red Sox writer for the RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlastairIngram. For daily Red Sox updates, follow the blog at @FenwayReport and join the fan page on Facebook.
