(Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
MLB trade season is upon us. The Chicago White Sox have continued their fierce rebuild by sending starting pitcher Jose Quintana 10.5 miles north to the Chicago Cubs for four prospects, including the Cubs’ number one and two ranked prospects: outfielder Eloy Jimenez and starting pitcher Dylan Cease.
A Jose Quintana trade was imminent, but there were questions about whether or not the White Sox should trade with their crosstown foes. The Astros, Braves, Yankees, and Brewers had all been linked to Quintana in the past but according to White Sox general manager Rick Hahn, the Cubs’ offer was “far and away the best offer.”
For the Cubs, Jose Quintana is exactly what the doctor ordered. The Cubs are currently 43-45 and sitting 5.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. After winning their first World Series in 108 years, expectations for the Cubs were through the roof, but this season has been nothing close to what Cubs fans were expecting.
One of the most prominent shortcomings of this Cubs team, that has resulted in a less than stellar first half, is their starting pitching. Their starters are 17th in the majors in ERA at 4.66, and their only starter with an ERA below four is Eddie Butler at 3.88. The Cubs starting pitchers also have a LOB% (left on base percentage) of 69.0%, which is the third lowest mark in the league. This means that more of the baserunners their starters surrender come around to score compared to other major league clubs.
If the Cubs wanted to repeat their success from last season and prove to their fans and baseball fans everywhere that the dynasty they have been made out to be is truly in progress, they desperately needed to add starting pitching. However, they also wanted a player with multiple years of team control on his contract, and that is one aspect of Jose Quintana that made him one of the most valuable assets in baseball. Next season, Quintana is owed only (relative to other starting pitchers of his caliber) $8.85 million and has two $10.5 million team options for 2019 and 2020. This season, Quintana will be the 57th highest paid starting pitcher, making his contract one of the best in baseball.
Quintana has been one of the most consistent starters in baseball, pitching at least 200 innings each of the last four seasons with an ERA no higher than 3.51. Because of his lack of run support, Quintana had only earned 9 wins each season from 2013 to 2015 before he earned a career high 13 last season. This is one of the reasons why Quintana has flown under the radar for so long.
Although Quintana’s numbers do not line up with elite pitcher status— he’s 4-8 with a 4.49 ERA— most of the damage was done early in the season. Since June 6, Jose Quintana is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He has 45 strikeouts and only 16 walks in 40 innings, and hitters are only hitting .213 and slugging .333 against him. Quintana is incredibly consistent, and even though he doesn’t make you jump out of your seat when you watch him pitch like former teammate Chris Sale or Clayton Kershaw will, Quintana continues to be one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball.
(Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
For the White Sox, Rick Hahn has done it again. He has brought back three huge hauls in their last three trades, igniting and accelerating their rebuild. In December, Hahn traded All-Star pitcher Chris Sale to the Red Sox for Yoan Moncada (MLB’s #1 prospect), Michael Kopech (MLB’s #11 prospect), Luis Alexander Basabe, and Victor Diaz. The next day, Hahn shipped outfielder Adam Eaton to the Nationals for Lucas Giolito (MLB’s #28 prospect), Reynaldo Lopez (MLB’s #36 prospect), and Dane Dunning. Eloy Jimenez (MLB’s #8 prospect) and Dylan Cease (MLB’s #63 prospect), among the prospects the Sox received for Quintana, now make it nine White Sox prospects in MLB’s top-100. That’s a lot of prospects.
Eloy Jimenez, out of the Dominican Republic, was the top-rated prospect on the 2013 international market and has drawn comparisons to Giancarlo Stanton if he reaches his full potential. He hits for power to all parts of the field and has impressive bat speed. A potential outfield of Jimenez, Cuban superstar prospect Luis Robert, and All-Star Avisail Garcia could be the best outfield in baseball in a couple of years.
Dylan Cease could have been a first round draft pick if he hadn’t injured his elbow the March before the draft. He has a great fastball that sits between 94 and 98 mph, even after his injury, and a good curveball to compliment it. If he can improve his consistency and control, Cease can become a front of the line starter.
After this trade, the White Sox have arguably the best farm system in baseball. Not only are they strong at the top with star potential players (Moncada, Jimenez, Kopech, Robert, etc.), their farm system is incredibly deep. Alec Hansen and Dane Dunning are the Sox’s number 12 and 13 prospects respectively and could easily be top-five prospects in a different system. It would be foolish for White Sox fans, like me, to believe that all of these prospects will reach their full potential, but the depth that the Sox have in the minor leagues provides insurance if some of these prospects don’t pan out. The more trades the White Sox make— and there surely will be more— the better and deeper their farm system gets.
Long story short, this trade was a win-win. The Cubs got a great, consistent pitcher to help strengthen their rotation and the White Sox get a great haul of prospects to add to their already tremendous farm system. The package that each team received in this trade fits their timeline to contend, making this trade a great move for both sides.