From 2008 to 2011 Ubaldo Jimenez was one of the best pitchers in the National League. He went 46-32 during that run, striking out 584, walking 280 with an ERA+ of 137, FIP of 3.42 and WHIP of 1.267. He was an All-Star in 2010 when he won 19 games.
He opened the 2011 season with the Rockies and struggled. This was in no small part to a thumb injury. But the Indians liked him–his team friendly contract was a perk–and made a trade. He did not come cheap, and the Tribe had to cough up top pitching prospects Drew Pomeranz and Alex White, plus pitcher Joe Gardner and OF Matt McBride.
Ubaldo’s was terrible post-trade. In 11 starts with the Indians, he went 4-4 with a 5.10 ERA/1.454 WHIP. Things were not that much better in 2012 when he went 9-17 and led the league in losses. His ERA was 5.40. The trade seemed like a disaster.
But if there was a bright spot it was his 2013 campaign. He was not great in the first half of the season (6-5, 3.66 ERA), but something clicked in the second half. He would go 6-5 with a 1.82 ERA, 1.143 WHIP and was a huge part of why the Indians made the playoffs. What changed? I think it was he was pitching for free agency. But thats me.
Ublado would leave after that season, signing as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles. He would only have one more year of league average performance in him (2015). Other than that he was a terrible pitcher for the Orioles, and at 34 is a free agent.