MLB Trade Rumors: Wandy Rodriguez Reportedly Claimed by Colorado Rockies on Astini News

The Colorado Rockies claimed Wandy Rodriguez of the Houston Astros on trade waivers this week, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. No one asked Ubaldo Jimenez about that move Tuesday, but someone really ought to: Jimenez clearly has some enemies in Colorado.

Consider the facts: Jimenez went to the Cleveland Indians in late July, when the non-contending Rockies decided to trade quantity for quality. They got in return two organizational players (a kind spin on: lifetime minor leaguers) and two starting pitchers, Alex White and Drew Pomeranz. Obviously, both new Rockies hurlers are younger and cheaper than Jimenez, and Pomeranz even has some upside. But given the team-friendly contract to which the Rockies had signed their ace, there was little pressure to make that move. Other than the hope of getting two good starters in return for one great one, the only imaginable reason for the deal was to shed what was not such bad money, really.

Now, though, it seems possible the Rockies could take on Rodriguez at $25.5 million for the next two seasons, giving up practically nothing but also getting no help from Houston in paying that salary. If they do so, they will have essentially said that they view Rodriguez at least as favorably as Jimenez, and that they are willing to pay three times Jimenez's scheduled salary to have Rodriguez and the two young pitchers instead. 

Quantity and quality are not mutually exclusive, it's true, and the Rockies could be trying to build a rotation with more depth and durability than their recent staffs have demonstrated. But to have cut bait with Jimenez only to reel in Rodriguez seems like a non sequitur, unless the Rockies know something no one else does about the shoulder or elbow of Jimenez.

That's because Jimenez is clearly the superior pitcher when healthy and on the mound. He strikes out more batters, and although he also walks more opponents, he keeps the ball on the ground more effectively than Rodriguez. Jimenez is consistently better than Rodriguez in FIP, with their career marks (4.03 for Wandy, 3.60 for Ubaldo) essentially telling the story. Even in what has been a down year, Jimenez has been worth about 2.6 wins above replacement, a full win better than Rodriguez.

Now, claims happen all the time without a transaction coming to fruition. The Astros could well pull Rodriguez back in light of the lost leverage that came with the claim. Alternatively, the two sides could view Rodriguez's trade value very differently to begin with. But the fact that the Rockies elected to make a play for Rodriguez tells us a few things:

1. Jimenez and the team did not see eye-to-eye on something.
2. Colorado greatly prefers southpaw starters (to wit, Jorge de la Rosa and Drew Pomeranz being valued very highly)
3. They have less confidence in the future health of Juan Nicasio and de la Rosa than they did even a few weeks ago.
4. The Rockies are trying to get creative.

Whether or not anything comes of this gambit remains to be seen. It's possible that it will amount to a fun twitter and blogosphere conversation, but that Rodriguez will stay put. In the meantime, though, it's a curious move with big potential implications.