Cubs acquire Quintana from White Sox
2016 champs give up 4 prospects in deal
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs found the pitching help they were looking for just a few miles from Wrigley Field. They hope it will give the scuffling team the kick it needs.
The defending World Series champions acquired left-handed ace Jose Quintana from the White Sox on Thursday in a major trade between crosstown rivals that could shake up the NL Central race.
By landing the 2016 All-Star, the Cubs made it clear they’re not giving up on a difficult season after arriving at the break two games under .500. They also added a pitcher who figures to be a key piece in the rotation for at least the next few years.
“We had a bad first half,” Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. “We did. We own that. We know we can do better.”
The Cubs trail Milwaukee by 5½ games in the division at 43-45 after ending a 108-year championship drought last fall. They believe they are set up to contend for years to come with stars such as Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.
By trading for Quintana, they brought in an elite starter who is under club control through 2020. They had to give up two top prospects in outfielder Eloy Jimenez and right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease along with minor league infielders Matt Rose and Bryant Flete.
Quintana has pitched better lately after a slow start and is 4-8 with a 4.49 ERA in 18 starts this season. He won a career-high 13 games last season with a personal-best 3.20 ERA while making his first All-Star team and is 50-54 with a 3.51 ERA since debuting with the White Sox in 2012. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said letting him go was a difficult choice for the rebuilding team.
“He’s a true professional who had to deal with everything from poor run support to the bullpen occasionally letting him down, the defense letting him down,” Hahn said. “He certainly never complained, never threw his arms up in the air, never rolled his eyes, never expressed any displeasure with his teammates. Instead, he was always supportive and continued to go about his business and set a wonderful example for the other young players in our clubhouse.”
Epstein called the White Sox a “surprising dance partner” because of their proximity. But the deal makes sense.
TRADE: The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired left-handed reliever Tyler Webb from the New York Yankees for minor league first baseman Garrett Cooper.
The trade was announced Thursday. Webb had a 4.50 ERA in seven appearances this year season with the Yankees without recording a decision.
TEBOW: Tim Tebow hit the first game-ending home run of his pro baseball career Thursday night, lifting the Class A St. Lucie Mets over the Daytona Tortugas 5-4 in a seven-inning game.
The former NFL quarterback went deep with one out against Cincinnati Reds minor leaguer Austin Orewiler, hitting a firstpitch fastball over the fence in left field. It’s his third home run in 16 Florida State League games following a promotion from Columbia, and his sixth home run in 80 games overall in his first season as a minor leaguer.
Tebow says it was his first walkoff homer since the district championship game his junior year at Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, near Jacksonville.
Tebow has hit safely in 11 straight games and is batting .327 with St. Lucie.
RASMUS: The Tampa Bay Rays have placed injured outfielder Colby Rasmus on the restricted list after the player’s decision to ‘step away from baseball.’
The team did not provide specifics Thursday, instead saying in a brief statement that the club fully supports the player deciding to leave.
The statement concluded: “We are thankful for his contributions to our team, and we wish him and his family the best as they move forward. Respecting the privacy of Colby and his family, the Rays will have no further comment.”
WHITE SOX: Chicago reliever Nate Jones has undergone seasonending arm surgery.
Sidelined since April 28 because of inflammation in his right elbow, he experienced discomfort during a throwing session last week.
General manager Rick Hahn says the issue stems from Tommy John elbow surgery Jones had in 2014. He says scar tissue formed around the nerve and caused the irritation.