CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians starter Ubaldo Jimenez is a free agent after the club exercised his $8 million club option for next season and he declined it.
Jimenez bounced back from a 17-loss season in 2012 to go 13-9 this season with a 3.30 ERA. The 29-year-old right-hander was Cleveland’s most consistent pitcher in the second half of the season, helping the Indians clinch their first playoff spot since 2007.
The Indians can offer him a $14 million qualifying offer by Monday. He will have six days to accept or decline. If he agrees, he will make $14 million next season. If he declines, the Indians will receive a 2014 first-round draft pick and he can sign with any team.
Jimenez went 4-0 in September with a 1.09 ERA. In his final start at Minnesota, he struck out 13 as the Indians grabbed a wild-card spot.
