5 reasons to love the Jose Quintana deal for the Cubs

1. Control, control, control

A great deal of the value Jose Quintana presented on the trade market is tied up in his extremely team-friendly contract. The Cubs can now potentially keep him through the end of the 2020 season for a maximum of $11.5 million. Even if Quintana is a 4.00 ERA pitcher, that is a massive bargain. If he’s a total disaster, the Cubs are only on the hook for $8.85 million next year and $2 million to eat his options for 2019 and 2020.

This trade addresses the Cubs need for a starting pitcher this year, while also looking to the future. It is a deal reminiscent of the Texas Rangers trade for Cole Hamels in 2015. Hamels helped the Rangers immediately, but also came with several years of control well below open-market value. The Cubs are going for it this season while also thinking ahead.

Jake Arrieta has likely pitched his way out of the Cubs long-term plans. You take him for what he was — a $1 scratchoff ticket that ended up hitting on a $500 million Powerball. Entering his age-32 season with one chance to cash in on free agency, Arrieta will not be interested in signing a two- or three-year deal with the Cubs. John Lackey is also a free agent at the end of the year, and could consider retirement. He will be 39 next season.

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The Cubs could be forced to attempt to pull off another big trade for a name like Sonny Gray or a rental like Jason Vargas. With Quintana, they have their first building block for the rotation going forward behind Jon Lester. They get some more balance with another left-hander and cheap contract that will not prevent them from chasing other top-tier free agents or attempting to lock up Kris Bryant, Ian Happ, Anthony Rizzo or Kyle Schwarber.