Cal Ripken Jr., 2005 Topps Turkey Red #305

Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...Ubaldo Jimenez? Provided that he passes the ever-perilous physical, the Orioles have finally made a significant free agent signing. The ex-Rockies and Indians righty agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract with the O's. It's risky business, as Baltimore is giving up their first-round draft pick and giving out their most expensive free agent deal since Miguel Tejada's five-year, $65 million contract a decade ago. Jimenez was very good in 2010 (19-8, 2.88 ERA, 214 K's), but had a much worse go of it in 2011 through the first half of 2013. He probably earned himself a bigger paycheck based on his second-half numbers last season (1.82 ERA, 100 K/84 IP), but it remains to be seen whether that was an anomaly or if he's figured some things out. But I'm just encouraged to see the Birds taking some action.