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Cardinals lose Jose Quintana to Queens in a deal New York Mets fans will love

By Kevin Henry

Oct 3, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jose Quintana (62) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jose Quintana (62) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Needing to find another piece to the rotation after recent defections, the New York Mets have reportedly signed Jose Quintana to a cost-conscious two-year deal.

SAN DIEGO — The rotation for the New York Mets will certainly have a different look to it when the 2023 season begins.

After losing Jacob deGrom and Taijuan Walker this offseason, the Mets have replaced that duo with Justin Verlander and now Jose Quintana, keeping a very busy MLB Winter Meetings going for Steve Cohen and company.

Quintana, who started the first game of the 2022 National League Wild Card series for the St. Louis Cardinals, reportedly inked a two-year, $26 million deal to head to Queens. Given some of the other average annual values handed out here in San Diego, the contract for the 33-year-old Quintana could end up being a steal if he continues to flash his 2022 skills.

Mets sign Jose Quintana to team-friendly deal

The southpaw made $10.5 million each during the 2019 and 2020 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, but 2020 was a disaster for him, thanks in part to thumb surgery that limited him to just 10.0 innings during the pandemic-shortened season. However, since then, Quintana has proven himself to be capable at the front end of rotations in Pittsburgh and St. Louis (where he posted a 191 ERA+ in 12 starts last season after being acquired at the MLB trade deadline).

Now, Quintana can shore up the middle or back end of a Mets rotation that will feature Verlander and Max Scherzer at the front. Carlos Carrasco, Tyler Megill, and David Peterson can also fit into the mix for the Mets as well.

Chris Bassitt, part of the New York rotation in 2022 after coming over from the Oakland A’s, remains a free agent, but is likely to find a new home outside of the Mets organization this offseason.

Quintana’s contract allows him to fit into the New York rotation and not have the pressure of being an ace. It also allows the Mets to focus resources on other areas with a cost-conscious deal that fills a need on the mound, a very good thing as the offseason shopping spree will continue for Cohen.

Next. 3 things to watch at Day 4 of the 2022 MLB Winter Meetings. dark

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