:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52175111/598578990.1481122528.jpeg)
After trading Chris Sale to the Red Sox yesterday in what will likely be the biggest deal this offseason, the White Sox are now dangling Jose Quintana. Unsurprisingly, the Atlanta Braves are interested in the 27-year-old lefty:
Braves ultimately wouldn't pay price for Sale. Do have interest in Quintana, who has 4 yrs left. Depends on timetable.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 7, 2016
While Quintana isn’t in the same pitching tier as Sale, he would still immediately become Atlanta’s best arm if a trade actually happened. Quintana has posted a 3.5 fWAR or better in each of the last three seasons and has a 3.41 career ERA despite a below-average 7.39 K/9.
Additionally, Quintana has thrown 200+ innings in each of the last four seasons and is under contract for four more years at $7, $8.85, $10.5 and $11.5 million respectively.
MLB Trade Rumors has the Astros as another team that could be after Quintana. Houston was in a similar situation as Atlanta in regards to Sale, as both teams were interested but refused to include their top shortstop prospects — Alex Bregman and Dansby Swanson. The Nationals have been linked to the southpaw as well, although conflicted reports have also surfaced.
The Braves certainly have the pieces to pull off a deal for the Colombian starter, but they’ve shown that they aren’t going to send Swanson away to bring a top-of-the-rotation arm to SunTrust Park.
We’ll keep monitoring the situation as it unfolds and bring you all the latest information.