Jon Morosi of MLB Network says that the New York Yankees have shown interest in White Sox starter Jose Quintana.
It’s the latest in the White Sox’ ongoing selloff. But it has been nothing approaching a fire sale, as Chicago has restocked its farm system with top talent as a result of earlier trades of Chris Sale and Adam Eaton. White Quintana does not have the reputation Sale has, he’s been one of baseball’s best and most consistent pitchers over the past several years and may be one of the most underrated players in all of baseball.
Quintana posted a 3.20 ERA with 181 strikeouts across 208 innings in 2016. Though it was his first season with double-digit wins, he has put up seasons basically like that one, like clockwork, for all five years of his career. He’s under contract through 2020 on terms that are very friendly to the club. His 2017 salary is $6 million, 2018 salary is $8.5 million and it goes to $10.5 million in 2019 with a club option at the same amount for 2020.
He’s very desirable and the Sox know it. The Yankees, if they want Quintana, will have to give up a great deal of talent to get him. Talent they do have, of course, by virtue of their own trades and minor league system restocking over the past couple of seasons.
