The White Sox and Yankees are among the many golf equipment expressing curiosity in Pirates starter José Quintana, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. The veteran southpaw is nearly sure to alter groups as a reasonably productive impending free agent on the fourth-place Bucs.
Chicago is lots accustomed to Quintana, in fact. The Colombian-born hurler started his huge league profession with the South Siders and spent basically all of his prime seasons there. One of many sport’s greatest pitchers at his peak, Quintana labored 200+ innings with an ERA of three.51 or decrease every season from 2013-16. The Sox flipped him throughout city in a 2017 blockbuster that netted them Dylan Cease and Eloy Jiménez from the Cubs.
Since leaving the White Sox, Quintana has posted extra up-and-down manufacturing. He’s typically regarded like a reliable however unexciting back-of-the-rotation arm, excepting final season when he spent a great chunk of the yr within the bullpen. Quintana has returned to the rotation full-time since signing with Pittsburgh, taking 19 turns and dealing 97 1/3 innings. At only a bit greater than 5 frames per begin, the 33-year-old has had a comparatively sheltered workload. The Pirates have allowed him to face a batter for the third time in an outing on simply 68 events all season.
Whereas Quintana hasn’t been counted on as a prototypical innings eater, he’s been typically efficient on a price foundation. He owns a 3.70 ERA, his lowest mark since his closing full season with the White Sox. Quintana has a modest 20.7% strikeout price, however he’s induced swinging strikes on a barely above-average 11.1% of his pitches. After an uncharacteristic spike in walks final season, he’s once more demonstrating his extra typical robust management (7.1% stroll proportion).
Quintana gained’t be essentially the most thrilling participant on the transfer this summer time, however there’s worth for contenders in stability in the back of the rotation. The White Sox have gotten ace-level manufacturing from Stop, and minor league signee Johnny Cueto has supplied a useful 2.72 ERA by means of 12 begins. Nevertheless, the Sox have gotten underwhelming work from Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn. Laborious-throwing righty Michael Kopech has proven properly in shifting from the bullpen to the rotation, however his 83 innings are already previous final yr’s 69 1/3 frames. Pitching coach Ethan Katz pushed again in opposition to the concept that Kopech will probably be on any type of innings restrict this night (through Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times). However, there’s room for one more arm able to decreasing a number of the stress on Kopech, notably with Vince Velasquez on the injured checklist attributable to blister hassle.
The Yankees are additionally accustomed to Quintana, though he’s by no means suited up for them within the main leagues. He spent three years of their minor league system earlier than making his MLB debut, departing as a minor league free agent after the 2011 marketing campaign. After all, the way more related concern for normal supervisor Brian Cashman and his employees can be to fortify the depth of a rotation that just lately misplaced Luis Severino to a lat pressure. The Yankees rotation has been superb general however middle-of-the-pack over the previous month, with Jameson Taillon notably struggling of late. As with the White Sox, New York in all probability wouldn’t look to Quintana to supplant anybody of their prime 5, however somewhat as a swing choice who can add some stability behind that group.
Quintana ought to have a reasonably broad vary of enchantment to pitching-needy golf equipment, as he’s inexpensive. He’s enjoying this season on only a $2MM base wage, round $800K of which stays owed. That’s a marginal sum, little question intriguing with the White Sox and Yankees every trying to bolster rosters which are already operating franchise-record payrolls.
