MLB trade rumors: White Sox trade Jose Quintana to Cubs

The Chicago Cubs traded for White Sox lefty Jose Quintana in a surprising move weeks ahead of the MLB trade deadline.

The MLB trade deadline is still more than two weeks away, but one of the biggest names on the market has a new home – or at least, a new team.

Chicago White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana, who entered the All-Star break with a 4-8 record, 4.49 ERA and 4.01 FIP, was traded to the crosstown Cubs Thursday in a deal for a package of talented prospects. Quintana, who has 109 strikeouts in 104.1 innings across 18 starts this season, has a 3.51 ERA in six major league seasons.

Quintana was one of the most talked about players in trade discussions over the winter, often linked to teams like the Astros and Yankees throughout the offseason and early spring training. The chatter began quickly after the White Sox signaled their rebuilding intentions during the offseason by trading Chris Sale to the Red Sox and Adam Eaton to the Nationals, building one of the most talented farm systems in baseball in the process.

That farm system is even better now. The Cubs traded outfielder Eloy Jimenez, right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease, first baseman Matt Rose and infielder Bryant Flete for Quintana. Jimenez, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound 20-year-old in High Class-A, is considered one of the best hitting prospects in all of baseball and possesses huge raw power. He currently sits No. 8 overall on MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospects list. Cease is ranked No. 2 in the Cubs system.

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The defending World Series champions limped into the All-Star break with a 43-45 record, 5.5 games out of first place in the National League Central and 7.5 games back in the Wild Card race.

However, the trade for Quintana is a sign the Cubs are prepared to defend their crown in 2017, and because the 28-year-old lefty is signed through the end of the 2018 season to a contract with two team options through 2020, he’s a big part of the future as well.