Orioles, Phillies could both benefit from a Jimenez/Howard swap
The Baltimore Orioles are halfway through a four-year, $50-million deal with Ubaldo Jimenez that, by most accounts, hasn’t exactly worked out so far. Jimenez pitched significantly better in 2015 than in the first year of his deal, but it’s safe to say the Orioles still aren’t getting the type of production out of the former All-Star that $13.5-million in annual salary demands.
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The Philadelphia Phillies, meanwhile, enter the final year of their own long-term pact with Ryan Howard, who has never been the same since tearing his achilles in the final out of the 2011 NLDS. Howard is set to make $25-million in 2016, and will be owed a $10-million buyout in the offseason assuming the club declines his $23-million 2017 club option.
The Orioles are seemingly stuck with Jimenez, while the Phillies have long desired to move Howard. And with Baltimore losing first base options Chris Davis and Steve Pearce on the free agent market this winter, perhaps the two could match up for a contract swap.
While Howard is no longer the player he once was, he has still been good for 23 home runs in each of the last two seasons. His walk rate, RBI total and on-base percentage all took drastic hits last season, but one would think that could improve with him moving to a lineup that also features Manny Machado, Adam Jones, J.J. Hardy and Matt Wieters. Hitter-friendly Camden Yards and the option to be a designated hitter (even perhaps as a regular) would also help with giving Howard more opportunities to be successful than he’s had with the Phillies in recent years.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, has reportedly been on the hunt for pitchers that can give them innings. The Phillies have already gone out and acquired Jeremy Hellickson this winter, and he’ll be the leader of a staff that is currently set to include young arms Aaron Nola, Adam Morgan, Jared Eickhoff and Alec Asher. Nola and Eickhoff figure to be long-term pieces in the Philadelphia rotation, though it’s unclear whether Morgan and Asher can become consistent enough to hold down permanent rotation spots.
Slotting Jimenez in for either of the two would provide the Phillies with another arm that can be counted on for at least 170 innings, while providing a healthy ground ball rate and saving a bullpen that will be in total rebuild mode. With his $13.5-million annual salary, Jimenez could also be a potential trade chip either in July or next winter, and will also prove to be a much more beneficial use of the team’s budget than an aging Howard.
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Because Howard is both older and more expensive than Jimenez, money (and perhaps minor prospects) would also likely have to change hands in the deal. But both teams could very well benefit from the swap and the players could likewise benefit from a change of scenery. Howard and Jimenez both still have something to offer, but would be best suited in different uniforms.