MLB Trade Rumors: Rockies Hold New York Yankees Hostage over Ubaldo Jimenez

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The New York Yankees need starting pitching to make a serious push for another World Series, but they are hitting a major roadblock in their pursuit of assistance through trade.

While the Yankees are pushing hard to acquire Colorado Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez, the teams can’t get on the same page, and time is running out.

Jimenez started last season on a great pace, but the second half started to show the warts on Ubaldo’s game. Now with Jimenez struggling, the asking price is too high for the Yankees.

The New York Post is reporting:

It is about a failure to communicate between two organizations. I have heard that talks with Colorado have been more contentious than cordial, with the Yankees expressing concerns about Jimenez’s health. Colorado has wanted two of the Yankees’ top three prospects (Manuel Banuelos, Dellin Betances and Jesus Montero) plus Nova, a key for the Rockies because he could go into the rotation instantly to replace Jimenez. The Yankees, at best, would build a trade around Montero or, maybe, Betances, but vow not both.

This is a deal that must get done for the New York Yankees because of the lack of consistent starting pitching the team has behind All-Star C.C. Sabathia.

While many will say that Jimenez won’t offer any more consistency than A. J. Burnett, there is no way the two should be compared. Even at Ubaldo’s worst, he is twice the pitcher Burnett is right now.

The Yankees need to swallow their pride and give up whatever they have to in order to make this deal work. Teams like the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox will be making moves, and it will be up to the Yankees to do so as well.

Check back for more on the MLB regular season as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s Baseball Page to get your fill of MLB.

Donald Wood is a Bleacher Report Featured Columnist and Syndicated Writer. Follow Donald Wood on Twitter.

Most recent updates:

Flag

Props (3)