#20. Ubaldo Jimenez, Baltimore Orioles
2015 WAR: 2.6
2014 WAR: -0.5
WAR Improvement: 3.1
The ever-inconsistent Ubaldo Jimenez was up to his old tricks again during the 2015 season. He tortured opponents before the All-Star break to the tune of a 2.81 ERA, but that number ballooned when he posted a 5.63 ERA during the second half of the year. All the command the 6-foot-5 righty was using to make up for his diminished fastball velocity seemed to disappear.
So, which version of Jimenez would you rather count on?
In one corner, we have the first-half pitcher who walked 2.9 batters and struck out 8.9 during a typical nine-inning span. In the other, post-All-Star-break Jimenez issued free passes to 3.8 batters per nine innings and rung up 7.4 over the same average stretch. For perspective, the 32-year-old’s career BB/9 and K/9 stand at 4.1 and 8.3, respectively.
Chances are he’ll split the difference again in 2016, displaying flashes of his old form while baffling the Baltimore Orioles with the occasional blowup. We’d lean more toward what we saw in the second half, given Jimenez’s declining arm strength and the poor command he’s shown since leaving the Colorado Rockies back in 2011.