Jimenez trade raises interesting questions

Sometimes its hard to see past the “smartest-guys-in-the-room” vibe the Tribe’s front office gives off. Case in point? When everyone, from the team’s manager to the casual observer, believes the Indians need additional offensive firepower to compete with Detroit and Chicago for the AL Central, Cleveland’s leadership swims upstream and deals its top two pitching prospects for another pitcher and not a middle-of-the-order bat.

And when asked about it, Cleveland president Mark Shapiro breaks out the corporate speak on Twitter and tells fans the deal was a “rare and unique opportunity to acquire a front-of-the-rotation starter with multiple years of control.”

Read: This guy is good value. Also read: This trade isn’t about 2011.

When reviewing the trade from a short-term perspective, ESPN’s Keith Law nails it.

“The main problem for Cleveland here is that it is incorrectly evaluating its own team…Since a fluky 30-15 start…Cleveland is 23-36 and has been outscored by 77 runs in that span — that is, it has been outscored by over a run and a quarter per game. Superman isn’t going to close that gap, and while there are things to like about Ubaldo Jimenez, Superman he ain’t.”

True. Jimenez is not Superman. But his performance and WAR tied to salary the two previous seasons would have cost the Indians $25 million per season on the free agent market. Even his lackluster 2011 would cost Cleveland around $11 million. In 2012 and 2013 Jimenez will cost Cleveland $4.2 million and $5.75 million respectively. That’s good value. And that’s important given the Indians nearly non-existent track record in ponying up for talent with the Dolan’s limited budget.

But another look at the trade shows something else - Cleveland will have Jimenez, Fausto Carmona, and Justin Masterson under contract through 2013. They will also have Travis Hafner, Asdrubal Carbrera, and Shin-Soo Choo tied up through 2013. That’s a strong nucleus. Alex White and Drew Pomeranz, the two central prospects surrendered by the Tribe in the deal, may or may not be ready to contribute on a significant level in 2013. Throw in the developing Lonnie Chisenhall, Jason Kipnis, and a strong bullpen and Cleveland fully intends to begin contending now and for the next two full seasons. Perhaps that game-changing bat can come this winter.