Five Chicago Cubs doomed to be gone by next season

Jose Quintana might go down as one of the most infamous players in the history of the Chicago Cubs. He was the return in one of the most lopsided trades the MLB has seen over the past 20 years. It makes it worse for the Cubs that the deal was made with the team that resides across town. Jose Quintana was given to the Cubs by the White Sox in exchange for Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease, and two other prospects.

Cease still has a lot of work to do to become a great MLB starter but he did go 5-4 and had a little bit improved ERA at 4.01. It stayed under three for most of the season but got there over four at the end. We don’t know what he is going to become but wouldn’t the Cubs love to find out on their mound right now instead of the White Sox?

If he reaches stardom after 30 career starts as most stars do, it will be a bad look for the Cubs just from that alone because they could really use some young pitching help. The Cubs are very bad at developing pitching and Cease might have been their saving grace. Eloy Jimenez is also over there on the other side of town mashing baseballs regularly. He is already one of the best young power hitters in the game and he is only going to get better. He has a lot of work to do in the offseason with his defensive efforts but it will improve. There is no doubt the Cubs would love to have them both back.

Quintana hasn’t been even close to worth those two prospects. He couldn’t even play for most of the season this year because of a dishwashing accident (yes you read that right). When he leaves the Cubs this offseason, they will be better off for it and it is a shame because of what they gave up to get him.