Orioles sign pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez

According to an AP report, pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez has signed with the Orioles. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) The Baltimore Orioles have been looking to

According to an AP report, pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez has signed with the Orioles. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The Baltimore Orioles have been looking to bolster their starting rotation, and now they have signed free-agent pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports.

Earlier reports from MASN's Roch Kubatko's believed the deal to be a four-year, $48 million contract.

Kubatko: "The Orioles will be shattering their trend of not handing out four-year deals to free agent pitchers outside the organization. And they will lose their first-round and competitive balance picks in the 2014 draft.

To get a deal done, the Orioles had to go to a fourth year. There were other American League East teams in the mix, and the Orioles were determined finalize it tonight."

The Orioles have been looking to spend money this offseason to improve their starting rotation. Signing Jimenez, who went 12-9 with a 3.38 ERA last season with the Cleveland Indians, cost the Orioles their first pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, the 17th overall selection.

Suk-min Yoon

AP