While most teams in the league covet a pitcher like Jose Quintana, it seemed as if his market boiled down to the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates.
The New York Yankees were once considered one of the favorites, but General Manager Brian Cashman has recently said that he doesn't believe his team will be adding any more pieces to the 2017 roster. While that stance could always change, it seems as if the Yankees are out on the White Sox pitcher.
As for the Astros and Pirates, both teams are in need of a front-line starter and have the farm system to facilitate the deal. While neither team can come to terms on the ace pitcher, both have been the most involved with the White Sox over Quintana.
Houston and Pittsburgh likely remain as Quintana's most likely landing spots. However a new report states that a third team may be entering the mix.
Mark Bowman is the Atlanta Braves beat reporter for MLB.com. Recently he wrote an article discussing how the Braves could still be interested in acquiring either Quintana or Rays starter Chris Archer.
He wrote:
Braves general manager John Coppolella couldn't quite make his end-of-the-year wish come true -- to acquire Chris Archer as a Christmas present. But that doesn't mean he won't continue weighing the possibility of trading for either Archer or Jose Quintana before the upcoming season begins.
The Braves have already significantly altered their rotation, and they are not comfortable with the Rays' current asking price for Archer or what the White Sox are seeking for Quintana. So it might be easy to assume neither of these pitchers will be in Atlanta's rotation at the start of the season. But in order to do so, you must also ignore the reality that it has never been wise to make assumptions about what the always aggressive Coppolella might do.
Though neither Quintana nor Archer would provide the Braves the ace they sought during their early and brief pursuit of Chris Sale, both can legitimately be described as front-line starters with attractive contracts.
There's certainly reason to think the Astros or another pitching-hungry club with legitimate playoff hopes will feel a greater temptation to acquire Quintana or Archer. But as the Braves continue to crave both immediate and long-term rotation stability, they'll stay in the mix for Quintana or Archer. Either would boost expectations for the upcoming season while helping to anchor rotations that, over the next few years, will be enriched by some of the organization's top prospects.
Bowman's words are a lot to digest, but what it boils down to is that the Braves are still searching for a front-line starter. The team was in on Chris Sale, but was unable to acquire him. The team views Quintana as a true ace, and could make a move prior to the season.
The team has already added pitchers in R.A Dickey, Bartolo Colon and Jaime Garcia. While the team is still technically in their rebuild, if they want to compete any time soon, adding Quintana could help them over the hump.
Bowman notes that while it may be unlikely to picture the Braves unloading prospects in a major deal, General Manager John Coppolella has made aggressive moves in the past and could look to make one last splash before the offseason ends.
If the Braves are truly interested in acquiring Quintana, they more than have the resources to do so. Atlanta currently has seven top 100 prospects including two in the top 12, according to MLB Pipeline.
While the team is unlikely to move Dansby Swanson, there is a chance the team moves their second best prospect in Ozzie Albies. With Albies and a mix of 2-3 of Atlanta's top prospects, the Braves should be able to land Quintana.
In the end, it all comes down to if the Braves want to mortgage their future for Quintana. If they feel that they're ready to contend, then there's a chance they make a move and try to push for the playoffs in 2017.
Overall, the Astros and Pirates are likely still the favorites to land Jose Quintana. But the Atlanta Braves have the ammunition, and could make a push to trade for the White Sox ace before the offseason is over.
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