MLB

Trade for Rockies’ Jimenez would jump-start Yankees staff

TORONTO — If the Yankees want to substantially upgrade their suspect rotation (more suspect now after Bartolo Colon’s huge implosion Thursday and Freddy Garcia’s smaller one in last night’s 7-1 loss to the Blue Jays) by trading for the Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez, they will have to rethink their philosophy regarding top prospects being untouchable.

Thursday night, Yankees scout Jay Darnell was in Denver to watch the right-handed Jimenez pitch well against the Brewers. He was one of six Yankees talent evaluators in major league parks Thursday watching the work of starters Matt Garza of the Cubs, Francisco Liriano of the Twins, Anibal Sanchez of the Marlins and Jeremy Guthrie of the Orioles, and Padres reliever Heath Bell.

The Rockies, who have extensively scouted the Yankees’ Double-A and Triple-A teams, had Dave Holliday, a special assistant to general manager Dan O’Dowd, at Rogers Centre for last night’s Yankees-Blue Jays game.

MR. 3,000

BOX SCORE

BUSHES ON JIMENEZ DEAL

Darnell was sent to Denver before Colon couldn’t get out of the first inning of a 16-7 loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday night. Afterward, Colon said he has been hesitant to fully test his left hamstring.

Manager Joe Girardi looked at tape of Colon’s outing and said he didn’t see evidence the leg hindered the pitcher. The manager said Colon would start Tuesday against the Rays.

Colon and Garcia aren’t the only question marks.

Phil Hughes, who will start tomorrow, was not impressive in his last outing, his first after spending mid-April through early July on the disabled list.

According to several talent evaluators, the Yankees have a better than average chance to acquire the 27-year-old Jimenez because they have the top-shelf prospects the Rockies want.

In mid-June, Colorado started getting calls on Jimenez. The Rockies told clubs they weren’t actively shopping him, but if teams were willing to talk about moving their best prospects, they would listen.

A month later, the Yankees are watching Jimenez closely.

At 44-48 and 8½ games behind the NL West-leading Giants, the Rockies are very close to being sellers as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.

According to a person familiar with the Rockies’ mindset, they believe Jimenez has pouted this year because shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez received contract extensions and he didn’t.

“They are annoyed at him,” the source said of Jimenez, who is 5-8 with a 4.08 ERA, but pitching better lately after starting the season 0-5.

The Rockies like Jesus Montero, who is at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but not as a catcher. Instead, they view him as a first baseman. They also are high on Double-A Trenton pitchers Manuel Banuelos and Dellin Betances.

The party line coming from The Bronx, however, is that those three are untouchable.

Montero was offered to Seattle last year in talks for Cliff Lee, and Austin Romine may be on the verge of passing him as the Yankees’ top catching prospect.

It’s clear the Yankees need to upgrade their rotation if they want to stay close to the Red Sox in the AL East and hold off the Rays or Angels for the wild-card ticket.

Jimenez, in demand because of his ability, is 55-44 with a 3.60 ERA in his six-year career, and has an affordable contract.

What Darnell and 16 other scouts saw from Jimenez on Thursday was another solid outing.

In his last six starts, he is 4-1 with a 3.05 ERA. That’s quite an improvement from the beginning of the season, when he went 0-5 with a 5.86 ERA and didn’t post his first victory until June 1.

Jimenez is making $2.8 million this year and will make $4.2 million next season. There is a club option for $5.75 million with a $1 million buyout for 2013 and a club option for $8 million and a $1 million buyout for 2014. The second option is only good if the 2013 option is exercised and may be voided if Jimenez is dealt.

That’s ashtray money for the Yankees, who dropped $35 million on reliever Rafael Soriano, who has been on the DL with a right elbow injury since May 17.

george.king@nypost.com