Jimenez passes; trade complete

AssociatedPress

CLEVELAND

Ubaldo Jimenez has passed his physical, completing a trade that sends him from the Colorado Rockies to the Cleveland Indians.

After sending four minor leaguers, including their top two prime pitching prospects, to the Rockies for Jimenez, the Indians had an unusually long wait for it to become official Sunday. There was plenty of time for buyer’s remorse.

Then the right-hander passed a series of tests the Indians insisted upon.

“This was a rare and unique opportunity, especially in our market, which comes along few and far between,” Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said. “We requested the physical, the Rockies complied and if we were not happy — there was no deal.”

Antonetti got the results he wanted to hear a half hour before the 4 p.m. trade deadline. That was about four hours after Jimenez went to visit doctors in Goodyear, Ariz., site of the Indians’ training facility.

The Indians were nervous as the deal was consummated on Saturday night. Jimenez started for Colorado in San Diego and the Indians watched as the pitcher they coveted so much gave up four runs in one inning before being lifted.

“There was a lot of anxiety and he didn’t exactly have a 1-2-3 inning,” Antonetti said, though the first-year GM wouldn’t second-guess the Rockies’ decision.

“In the end, we’re happy with the result,” he said.

Colorado gets minor league right-handers Alex White and Joe Gardner, first baseman Matt McBride and a player to be named, expected to be lefty Drew Pomeranz.

White and Pomeranz were considered the top two pitching prospects in Cleveland’s organization. They were Cleveland’s No. 1 draft picks in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

“For no other player [discussed] would we have included both,” Antonetti said, estimating that about 75 players were mentioned in various talks with numerous teams.

“It was painful for us [to trade prized prospects], but we decided the time was right. We’re a better team than we were,” he said.

Antonetti kept trying to land a much-needed hitter and said he will continue to explore ways of trying to add offense to a club that has struggled to score for weeks.

“We worked all the way up to the deadline,” he said. “To some degree there is [disappointment], but we’re still confident we can be bolstered by the return of two prominent players.”

Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo, the Indians’ top hitter the past two season, could return from a broken left thumb in mid-August. Former All-Star center fielder Grady Sizemore is recovering from hernia surgery, rehabbing a sore right knee and could provide a lift a little later.

Until then, Jimenez will be counted upon to help Cleveland overtake first-place Detroit in the AL Central. A 5-2 loss to Kansas City dropped the Indians 21/2 games back. They are 11/2 games ahead of the Chicago White Sox and four ahead of Minnesota.

“We’re happy to add a guy who can give us an opportunity to win every five days,” manager Manny Acta said. “Plus, he’s a quality human being, right for us in the clubhouse, a well-educated guy and classy.”