Chicago Cubs: Jose Quintana will always be team’s most-criticized arm

Chicago Cubs: A high price that will follow him forever

Cubs fans aren’t the most rational creatures in the world. We all know that much (especially post-World Series championship). And, for that reason, Jose Quintana will never be good enough.

In pursuit of a second title, Chicago sent a prospect package headlined by Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease to the South Side in exchange for Quintana. And, by and large, he held up his end of the bargain down the stretch, pitching to a 3.74 ERA and 1.103 WHIP in 14 starts.

But that’s not what you expect when you trade two prospects who appear, by pretty much every account, to have very bright futures ahead of them. Sure enough, Jimenez carries a .980 OPS this year between Double and Triple-A. Cease, meanwhile, has 146 strikeouts in 118 innings, pitching to a 12-2 record and 2.52 ERA. In short, they’re both blossoming onto some of the best prospects in the game.

And with each success, they further cement the begrudging attitude so many Cubs fans hold toward Jose Quintana. Never mind the fact he’s always been a middle-rotation arm (and that’s what the Cubs traded for him to be). Fans want an ace – and they’ll be disappointed till he throws his last pitch on the North Side if that remains the case.