Chicago Cubs: How starting rotation stacks up against NL Central

Jose Quintana will be the fourth starter, but who is the fifth starter?

Since being acquired in July 2017, Jose Quintana hasn’t lived up the expectations that sent four prospects – including Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease – to the Chicago White Sox. His first start in a Cubs uniform provided a hopeful glimpse of the future, striking out 12 batters in Baltimore. However, his 4.23 ERA on the north side and propensity to serve up the long balls – 14.7 percent and 12.1 percent HR/FB in 2018 and 2019, respectively – have left many wondering if Theo Epstein made the right move.

At the time, it made a considerable amount of success, given where the two respective teams were in their competitive windows. But it’s been frustrating to watch Quintana post mediocre numbers while Jimenez looks like a budding superstar. The 23-year-old smacked 31 home runs and knocked in 79 RBI in his first big league year.

Quintana, 31, is entering the final year of his contract, a very modest $11.5 million AAV and just $10.5 million in 2020. I suppose the positive is that given his contract and ability to throw meaningful innings, the Cubs could trade Quintana at the deadline should they scuffle out of the gate and replace him with a couple of arms within.

Speaking of the fifth starter, the Cubs appear to be set with allowing one of their internal candidates to battle for the role in Spring Training. Outside of second base, it has the potential to be the most exciting competition in camp. Tyler Chatwood would appear to be the front-runner, but Adbert Alzolay, Alec Mills, and Colin Rea could have something to say about that. I suspect that another unlikely player will emerge and could be a fringe rotation player this year as well.