Latest Jimenez trade lands him with Reds
By Jim Callis
July 6, 2003
It took D'Angelo Jimenez slightly more than two years to wear out his welcome with the Padres, but less than a year to do with the White Sox. Chicago designated him for assignment after trading for Roberto Alomar on July 1, then sent him to the Reds for Double-A righthander Scott Dunn on Sunday.
Jimenez looked like a steal when the Padres acquired him from the Yankees for Jay Witasick in June 2001. He had been one of the game's top shortstop prospects before breaking his neck in January 2000 when his car hit a bus in his native Dominican Republic. After his return, he was blocked by New York's middle infield of Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano. The trade to San Diego gave him a chance to blossom, but he didn't make the most of it as he didn't hit much and showed inferior range at shortstop that prompted his move to second base. The Padres traded him to the White Sox last July for nondescript minor leaguers Alex Fernandez and Humberto Quintero.
Jimenez finished strong with Chicago in 2002, batting .287-1-11 in 27 games, but slumped this year and hit .255-7-26 in 73 contests. He batted just .187 in June, prompting the trade for Alomar. He made several baserunning and mental mistakes, which didn't help endear him to the White Sox. The Padres aren't big fans of Jimenez, either. After Jimenez said San Diego's veterans didn't treat him respectfully and that the club lacked leadership, Ryan Klesko fired back by calling Jimenez the laziest player he'd ever seen. A career .263-14-107 hitter with a .341 on-base percentage and .373 slugging percentage in 280 big league games, Jimenez is a switch-hitter with solid plate discipline and good pop for a middle infielder. His physical skills don't play as well as they should on the bases or in the field, however. At 25, Jimenez still has plenty of time to become a dependable big league regular. He'll begin his Reds career as a utility infielder, though he has more offensive upside than Cincinnati's starting second baseman, Ray Olmedo. Jimenez, who makes $345,000 this season, will be eligible for arbitration for the first time after the season.
Dunn, 25, was a 10th-round pick out of the University of Texas in 1999 and threw a perfect game in the low Class A Midwest League in 2000. Though he has good stuff and has averaged more than a strikeout per inning as a pro, he somehow slid down the Reds' depth chart and was moved to the bullpen in 2002. This year, he has gone 3-2, 3.79 with a 54-16 strikeout-walk ratio and a .211 opponent average in 40 innings at Chattanooga. Dunn throws in the low 90s, and also uses a curveball, changeup and occasional knuckler. He'll help replenish the bullpen prospect depth the White Sox gave up for Alomar (lefty Royce Ring, righty Hector Almonte).