Chicago Cubs: Is the Jose Quintana era coming to a sudden close?

Chicago Cubs: There are several ways this situation can go, and hopefully, its best-case scenario.

The obvious best-case scenario for the Cubs and Quintana is that he comes back healthy in a few weeks, and he pitches well enough to help the team win in a season that happens all the way through. The uncertainty of the situation right now guarantees none of that, but it’s not impossible.

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If he gets healthy, there is a question as to which version of him he will pitch. In his up and down tenure as a Cub, he has had good stretches and poor stretches. If the Cubs are lucky enough to get him healthy and pitching well, then it can be one last chance for him to squeeze a little more value from him before he becomes a free agent.

There is always the scenario where Quintana does not throw another pitch as a Cub again. Whether it is because of his health or because the season is canceled or cut short due to the pandemic. It is also possible he returns and struggles mightily in a short time. That is what fans likely fear the most. Unless the absolute best-case scenario happens, the legacy of the trade is pretty much set in stone among Cubs followers.

While we do not know 100%, right now, with the Cubs trying to develop arms and get younger for the coming years, it seems likely they do not resign Quintana as a free agent unless they get an absolute bargain. We sure know it was not a bargain the first time.

Chicago Cubs: The organization’s depth arms will need to step in during Quintana’s absence.

Right now, the most logical choice to step into the rotation is Alec Mills. The 28-year old was in the mix for the fifth starter position during the initial spring training back in March. Tyler Chatwood was the guy to beat for that position back before the Quintana injury. Mills has made six starts as a Cub and last year pitched to a 2.75 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 42 strikeouts vs. 11 walks in 36 innings.

Other options on the main camp roster working out at Wrigley Field include Colin Rea and Duane Underwood Jr. Rea was a starter in Triple-A last season, making 26 starts and pitching to a 3.95 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. He would be more likely to start over Underwood, who spent much of his time in Triple-A last year pitching out of the bullpen. Underwood has one career MLB start under his belt, which came in 2018 against the Dodgers.

Then there is Adbert Alzolay. He is working out with the South Bend group as he was optioned in spring. Alzolay is one of the bigger-name prospects in the Cubs farm and is seen as a potential future rotation piece. Last year he pitched in four games and made two starts. His overall numbers were not great with a 7.30 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 7.75 FIP in 12.1 innings. The sample size is small, and we saw the promise in his stuff, so being part of the future, he might be utilized if given a chance.

If this is the end of Jose Quintana’s tenure as a Cub, I can say it was a complicated one. Overall the numbers are very “meh”. A 4.23 ERA, 1.3 WHIP, 3.95 FIP and 8.5 K/9 in 429.2 innings. We saw him pitch some great games and have some good stretches. Not as big of a deal if the Cubs had not given the White Sox two potential future All-Stars in Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease.

He pitched well in 2017 when he first came over (3.74 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 10.5 K/9), but 2018 and 2019 were inconsistent. Sox were always going to win longterm, but the Cubs wanted more for their return from a guy who was very consistently good on the South Side.