Chicago Cubs: How the Quintana trade still haunts the organization

The Chicago Cubs made a gamble when they traded for starting pitcher Jose Quintana last season. So far he hasn’t pitched up to expectations, and the ramifications go beyond just this season.

At the time when Theo Epstein made the trade for Jose Quintana last July, it was expected that the Chicago Cubs were getting a very good, reliable starting pitcher. A year later, that has hardly been the case.

Quintana’s performance on the mound this season has been disappointing. After getting hit hard in his last start against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, his ERA is now 4.46 in 23 starts. Not a very good statistic for any starting pitcher.

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Maybe Epstein should have seen a drop in performance from Quintana coming much sooner than this season. After all, in last year’s playoffs, Quintana already showed signs of foreseeable trouble on the mound. Posting a dismal 5.40 ERA in four playoff appearances, three starts.

Surely, this is not what the Cubs’ organization had in mind when they traded away two top-tier minor-league prospects for Quintana’s services. Prospects OF Eloy Jimenez and SP Dylan Cease are both having successful seasons in the White Sox minor league system. Displaying promise and upside that go beyond anything Quintana has to offer for the Cubs.

Quintana’s struggles are obviously hurting the Cubs this season, but his lackluster play can have a ripple effect beyond the postseason. Fast-forward to next year’s off-season: If Quintana doesn’t show signs of improvement, will Epstein feel pressure to add another reliable starting pitcher, possibly via trade?

This is certainly a strong possibility. While all blame shouldn’t be put squarely on Quintana’s shoulders…ehem, Yu Darvish and Tyler Chatwood…Quintana is supposed to be a stabilizing force in the rotation beyond this season.

If Quintana was pitching well, the urgency to acquire another starter, possibly via trade wouldn’t be nearly as high. Even with others like Darvish and Chatwood struggling to find any sort of footing.

Epstein likely won’t look to sign a good starting pitcher in upcoming free agency because he needs to save as much money possible to lure Bryce Harper away from the Washington Nationals. Because of this, if the Cubs do decide to look for another reliable starter, it’d likely come through a trade proposal.

Unfortunately, this entails potentially parting ways with some beloved members of the Cubs. Addison Russell, Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber, and David Bote are all candidates that are currently competing for playing time. Yet show enough promise to be used as possible upcoming trade chips.

The problem is that there are no young talented pitching prospects in the Cubs minor league system who can contribute to a shaky starting rotation anytime soon. Epstein put his money on Quintana performing better than what he’s shown thus far. In large part to make up for a lack in minor-league pitching talent.

There is still plenty of time for the former White Sox pitcher to turn things around. Quintana’s next start will be telling on whether that’ll happen anytime soon.