Indians Exercise 2013 Club Option Of RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has exercised the 2013 club option of RHP UBALDO JIMENEZ. Also today, the Indians declined the 2013 club options for DH TRAVIS HAFNER and RHP ROBERTO HERNANDEZ.
Jimenez, 28, went 9-17 with a 5.40 ERA in 31 starts for the Indians in 2012 (176.2IP, 190H, 106ER, 95BB, 143SO). For the season he averaged 7.3 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched, 16th among American League starting pitchers and tops on the Tribe pitching staff. He recorded his 12th career double-digit strikeout game on August 9 vs. Boston (10SO) and over a 16 start stretch from June 10-August 31 he fanned 94 batters in 91.1 innings of work (9.3SO/9.0IP). His best month came in June, recording an ERA of 2.78 in 5 starts (32.1IP, 25H, 10ER).
Hafner hit .228 (50-219) in 2012 between two stints on the disabled list while Hernandez was limited to 3 August starts (0-3, 7.53ERA) in 2012. Hafner and Hernandez are both eligible for free agency.