That's the big word straight from FOX Sports right now- the Cincinnati Reds apparently have Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez on their radar, and are considering making a major run at the star pitcher. Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi recently reported that the Rockies haven't had any legitimate trade talks about Jimenez yet, but the Reds are keeping tabs on the flame-throwing starter just in case they decide to aggressive buy this summer.
The 27-year-old Jimenez's numbers are down across the board this season, including a major drop in velocity to begin the season, but he's pitched better of late as his heater has once again crept back into the mid-90's with regularity. Jimenez is under contract cheaply through 2013 and the Rockies have a club option worth $8 million for 2014, but that option becomes voidable if Jimenez is traded, and he'd likely expect a long-term deal by 2013 should a trade occur.
Given that he's still fairly cheap and has pitched so well in a Rockies uniform, the club would likely need to be overwhelmed in order to find the right deal, but the FOX duo suggested that the Reds could start a package with one of their young MLB starters, either Homer Bailey, Travis Wood or Mike Leake. I'd expect them to have to give up an elite position player prospect as well, so they'd likely have to let go either Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal or Devin Mesoraco in order to finish off a deal.
At this point, any Jimenez trade is a long-shot, but without any obvious stud starters on the market, interest in someone like Jimenez could really heat up over the next couple weeks.