White Sox deal Quintana to Cubs for four prospects

The Chicago Cubs, scuffling and inconsistent since winning the World Series, acquired ace Jose Quintana from the White Sox on Thursday in a major trade between crosstown rivals.

Trailing Milwaukee by 5 1/2 games in the NL Central at 43-45, the Cubs shook things up in a big way by acquiring Quintana, a 2016 All-star. In exchange, the Cubs sent four prospects to the rebuilding White Sox: outfielder Eloy Jimenez, right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease, and infielders Matt Rose and Bryant Flete.

Quintana, a lefty, is 4-8 with a 4.49 ERA in 18 starts this season. He went 13-12 with a 3.20 ERA last year and made his first All-star team.

Quintana has pitched better lately after a slow start and is joining a rotation that hasn’t performed the way the Cubs envisioned. The North Siders’ starters rank 17th in the majors in ERA.

■ Indians: Cleveland manager Terry Francona rejoined his team for an extended stay in Northern California, one week after undergoing a minor procedure for an irregular heartbeat.

The 58-year-old Francona was supposed to manage the American League during Tuesday’s All-star Game but opted out after undergoing a cardiac ablation procedure at the Cleveland Clinic on July 6.

Francona had been hospitalized for dizziness, fatigue and a rapid heart rate before the procedure. The Indians skipper had also missed two games and was hospitalized twice in June for similar conditions.

■ Brewers: Milwaukee acquired lefthanded reliever Tyler Webb from the New York Yankees for minor league first baseman Garrett Cooper.

Webb was assigned to Triple-a following the trade. He had a 4.50 ERA in seven appearances this year season with the

Yankees without recording a decision.

Webb made his big league debut on June 24 after going 3-1 with a 3.24 ERA in 21 games at Triple-a. He turns 27 next week.

Cooper was batting .366 with 17 homers and 82 RBIS at Triple-a.

■ Rays: Tampa Bay 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.

Rasmus, who signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent last winter, had been on the 10-day disabled list since June 23 with left hip tendinitis.

He was limited by injuries to appearing in 37 games this season, but was batting .281 with nine homers and 23 RBIS in 121 at-bats.

■ Mets: Tim Tebow hit the first gameending home run of his pro baseball career, 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 farmhand Austin Orewiler, smacking a firstpitch fastball over the fence in left field. Tebow was doused with Gatorade and mobbed by teammates when he reached home plate.

Tebow has hit safely in 11 straight games and is batting .327 with St. Lucie.