3 flawed free agents the Cubs must avoid at all costs this offseason

3. LHP Jose Quintana

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer loves to reunite with former players. The latest example comes in the form of trading for Isaac Paredes, who was originally signed by the Cubs as an international free agent in 2015. But this is one reunion I would not like to see.

Jose Quintana has had a great year with the New York Mets, don't get me wrong. In the wake of ace Kodai Senga getting hurt, Quintana turned in 170 1/3 innings this year with an incredible second-half hot streak. In fact, Quintana has pitched very well in each of his last three seasons. But I just can't get behind the Cubs bringing him back.

Quintana will be turning 36 next year, but he could warrant a sizable deal given he doesn't rely on velocity and he rarely gets hurt. But the money the Cubs would invest in this deal could be better spent on an ace-level starter to slot in alongside Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga. Quintana's run with the Cubs was anything but that. He seemed uncomfortable on the North Side and never pitched to the higher standard he did before and after his Cubs tenure.

Not to mention the bad taste that the trade to get Quintana leaves due to Dylan Cease's emergence as an ace. This is in no way Quintana's fault and I think he is a solid pitcher. He just doesn't jive with the Cubs and it's probably better for everyone if he doesn't return. If the Mets continue their unlikely postseason run, there's a good chance he goes back to New York anyway.