MLB Insider Suggests Four Perfect Jose Quintana Trades

Jose Quintana has been one of the most talked about trade pieces this offseason. He is arguably the best pitcher available, making him appealing to any team in need of a front-line starter. In his five seasons in the MLB, Quintana has appeared in 154 games and 951 innings. He holds a career 46-46 record with a 3.41 ERA and a 781/244 K/BB ratio. Quintana has appeared in atleast 200 innings while holding a sub 3.60 ERA the past four seasons. But beyond just his heroics on the mound, teams are interested in Quintana's contract. The White Sox pitcher is making just $7 million in 2017, and is under team control until 2020. Any team has the cap room flexibility to fit Quintana on their roster. Quintana is one of the most consistent pitchers in the MLB. He has flown under the radar during his time in the MLB and would undoubtedly improve any pitching rotation he is in. Most importantly, atleast to some teams, is that he doesn't cost a ton of money. The Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees have been the three teams most involved in trade talks for the pitcher. While they aren't the only three involved, it has seemed like one of those teams is Quintana's most likely landing spot. While Quintana has a booming market, there has been little concrete information on potential prospects that would head to Chicago in a deal. If the White Sox are going to move their best pitcher, fans need to know that they're getting a massive haul in return. Jim Duquette of MLB.com recently wrote an article predicting what it would take for Quintana's biggest suitors to get a deal done. Duquette is not just an analyst, but a former General Manager who spent 20 years as an MLB executive. Duquette may be the best analyst to figure out what the "perfect" deal for Quintana may be. However while Duquette is more than qualified, these are just predictions. He is not providing inside information, just guessing what it may take to get a deal done. The Jose Quintana trade rumors have become exhausting to White Sox fans. Yet Rick Hahn won't move his top trade asset if he doesn't get his demands. Perhaps one of these four trades could get a deal done and give the White Sox even more talented prospects to add to their rapidly-improving farm system.

Houston Astros

Astros get: Jose Quintana White Sox get: Francis Martes, Kyle Tucker, David Paulino Before we begin, this trade is the same exact deal our own Sean Sears reported Houston offered for Quintana. The Astros have been a natural fit for Quintana for most of the offseason. The team added Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann and Josh Reddick giving Houston one of the deadliest offenses in the American League. However the Astros could put their team over the edge by adding a top-flight starter. Pairing Quintana with former CY Young contender Dallas Kuechel would give Houston one of the better 1-2 punches in the major leagues. Quintana could be the missing piece in the Astros potential World Series bid. As for what the White Sox receive, Chicago would be getting three top 100 prospects. It would give the South Siders a total of nine prospects within the top 100. Francis Martes is currently the Astros best prospect and the 29th best prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline. Martes has appeared in 68 minor league games and 321.1 innings. He has a career 23-15 record with a 2.97 ERA and a 307/112 K/BB ratio. The Astros prospect is one of the best pitchers in the minor leagues. With the White Sox, he would add to any already impressive future rotation featuring Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech and Reynaldo Lopez. Kyle Tucker is the Astros second best prospect and the 50th best prospect in baseball. He has appeared in 180 minor league games, hitting .271 with 12 homeruns, 102 RBIs and 50 stolen bases. Tucker offers a nice blend of speed and power. He could turn into one of the best all-around hitters in the MLB upon his arrival. With the White Sox, he would be the team's center or right fielder of the future and force in the middle of the lineup for years to come. David Paulino is the Astros fourth best prospect and the 70th best prospect in baseball. The Dominican born pitcher has appeared in 48 minor league games and 196.1 innings. He holds a career 13-9 record with a 2.20 ERA and a 219/50 K/BB ratio. Paulino has a chance to be one of the best pitchers on the White Sox should he pan out. He has a fastball that could hit 98 and a devastating breaking ball. The pitching prospect just gives Chicago another impressive arm for their future rotation. All three players would be dynamic pieces for the Sox upon their major league arrival. Martes and Paulino gives the team two more power arms while Tucker gives Chicago a well-rounded bat. Overall the White Sox receive three incredibly talented top 100 prospects from the Astros in return for Jose Quintana.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates get: Jose Quintana

White Sox get: Josh Bell, Mitch Keller, Kevin Newman/Cole Tucker

The Pirates have been considered one of the favorites to land Quintana for most of the offseason. Pittsburgh just wanted their division rival Chicago Cubs just win the World Series. They understand that if they want to compete then they have to add high-level MLB talent.

Adding the White Sox pitcher gives the Pirates an impressive 1-2 punch atop their rotation with Quintana followed by Gerrit Cole. Both are then followed by the rapidly improving Ivan Nova, giving the team one of the better pitching rotations in the National League.

But what makes the Pirates one of the favorites is their deep farm system. The team has five players in the top 100 prospects, including three in the top 20.

Duquette argues that Pittsburgh may be unwilling to trade their best pitching prospect in Tyler Glasnow and their best hitting prospect in Austin Meadows. If so, Duqette believes that these three top prospects would be necessary to get a deal done.

Josh Bell is the White Sox third best prospect and the 20th best prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline.

Bell got his first taste of the major leagues in 2016, appearing in 45 games. He hit .273 with three homeruns and 19 RBIs. In 487 career minor league games, Bell hit .303 with 44 homeruns, 285 RBIs and 23 stolen bases.

The Pirates prospect is as MLB ready as they come. He would be able to step right in at first base or DH and contribute immediately. With the Sox, he would be Jose Abreu's replacement assuming he is moved. He would be a force in the middle of Chicago's lineup for years to come.

Mitch Keller is the team's fifth best prospect and the 72nd best prospect in baseball. He has appeared in 39 minor league games and 177.1 innings. Keller holds a career 9-8 record with a 2.64 ERA and a 192/48 K/BB ratio.

Keller is projected to be a mid-rotation starter with potential for more. He has a good three pitch mix including an impressive 11-5 curveball. With the White Sox he would likely be another talented pitcher in the team's super rotation of the future.

The Sox would likely have their pick of Kevin Newman or Cole Tucker assuming the Pirates included one of them in the trade. While Newman is ranked higher on the prospect board than Tucker, both would be vital pieces for the team's future infield.

Newman is the team's fourth best prospect and the 42nd best prospect in baseball. In his 163 minor league games Newman has hit .295 with seven homeruns, 69 RBIs and 23 stolen bases.

Newman seems like he has all the tools to be an everyday MLB middle infielder. He is a player who will get on base and create runs with his legs. He would likely have to move to second or third base with Tim Anderson locked in at shortstop. However Newman would be a threat atop the White Sox lineup going forward.

Tucker is the the team's seventh best prospect. He has appeared in 201 minor league games, hitting .267 with six homeruns, 65 RBIs and 44 stolen bases.

Tucker is coming off of a shoulder injury, but he has the makeup of a talented middle infielder. Like Newman he would need a new position, but he would be one of the better hitters in the White Sox lineup.

This package would give the White Sox two impressive infielders as well as another talented pitcher. While they wouldn't get Meadows or Glasnow, they're getting three prospects who would be crucial to the team's future playoff push, whenever that may be.

New York Yankees

Yankees get: Jose Quintana

White Sox get: Jorge Mateo, Aaron Judge, Blake Rutherford, Dillon Tate

The New York Yankees have likely dropped out of the Quintana trade talks. Brian Cashman recently reported that the team is done adding for the 2017 season. Duquette didn't shy away from those rumors writing that there's a good chance the Yankees hold on to their prospects.

As the rest of the AL East builds, the Yankees may feel as if they need Quintana. Adding a consistent starting pitcher to pair with Masahiro Tanaka could put New York over the edge in the East.

But with that possibility seeming more and more unlikely, this trade scenario seems improbable. However the Yankees remain one of the best potential landing spots for Quintana, making a trade atleast somewhat possible.

In this deal the White Sox get three top 100 prospects in Jorge Mateo, Aaron Judge and Blake Rutherford, as well as a former top five pick in Dillon Tate. After receiving mainly pitching in their Chris Sale and Adam Eaton trades, adding three stud hitters would even out the team's rebuild.

The White Sox would be missing out on the Yankees top two prospects, but they arguably get the most talent in this deal. Mateo is the Yankees third best prospect and the 18th best prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline. In his 323 minor league games, Mateo has hit .270 with 18 homeruns, 122 RBIs and 182 stolen bases. Mateo's top skill is obviously his speed. With the White Sox he would likely lead off and be a dangerous threat on the base path. While he would need to find a new position because of Tim Anderson, he would be an offense weapon for Chicago and one of the White Sox best prospects. Judge is the Yankees fourth best prospect and the 22nd best prospect in baseball. Judge got his first taste of major league action in 2016, appearing in 27 games. He hit .179 with four homeruns and 10 RBIs. He fared much better in his 348 minor league games, hitting .278 with 56 homeruns, 215 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Judge has 30+ homerun potential in the major leagues. He would be a stalwart in the middle of the White Sox lineup as their 3rd or 4th hitter. Judge would be either the Sox' left or right fielder of the future. Rutherford is the team's fifth best prospect and the 51st best prospect in baseball. He has appeared in just 33 games, hitting .351 with three homeruns and 12 RBIs. Rutherford is going to need a lot more time in the minor leagues, however he should develop into one of the better hitters in the league. His swing will allow him to hit for a high average with decent power. He would likely start in the opposite corner outfield spot from Judge on the White Sox. Tate isn't as highly touted as the other three, yet he is the Yankees 11th best prospect. He has appeared in 30 minor league games and 91.1 innings. Tate holds a career 4-3 record with a 4.34 ERA and a 78/36 K/BB ratio. Tate will likely need more time in the minor leagues, and may only pan out as a reliever. But he is an intriguing arm and an interesting prospect piece as the fourth player in this proposed trade. Getting a coup featuring three top 100 prospects is quite the haul for the Sox. Having that group headlined by a player of Mateo's quality would be almost too much to turn down in a Jose Quintana trade.

Colorado Rockies

Rockies get: Jose Quintana

White Sox get: David Dahl and Brendan Rodgers

The Rockies, more likely than not, are not trading for Quintana. The team hasn't publicly come out and said they're interested, and Colorado may be unwilling to trade their top prospects.

However the team proved that they think they can make the playoffs in 2017 signing both Ian Desmond and Mike Dunn to long-term deals. Perhaps the team feels they could really make a splash and makes a move for Quintana.

Colorado has one of the better farm systems in the MLB, meaning they could pull a trade off. With starting pitching being one of the Rockies weakest links, Quintana could be the missing piece to a Rockies playoff run.

David Dahl got his first taste of major league action in 2016, appearing in 63 games. He hit .315 with seven homeruns, 24 RBIs and five stolen bases. In 367 games in the minors, Dahl hit .310 with 47 homeruns, 205 RBIs and 74 stolen bases.

Dahl is likely the most MLB-ready hitter on the list of prospect in this article. With the White Sox he would immediately step in their MLB outfield. He would be a fixture in the middle of the team's lineup for years to come bringing a solid bat with an ample amount of power and a decent amount of speed.

Brendan Rodgers is the Rockies best prospect and the sixth best prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline. Rodgers is just 19 years old, yet he has appeared in 147 minor league games. He hit .279 with 22 homeruns, 93 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

Rodgers has been compared to Troy Tulowitzki in the past. He putting him in an infield with Zack Collins/Jose Abreu, Yoan Moncada and Tim Anderson would give the White Sox one of the best in the major leagues. He would give the White Sox three top 10 prospects and help complete a widely successful rebuild on the South Side.

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