Eloy Jimenez's game-winning home run puts crosstown trade back in spotlight

Jose Quintana

It wasn't so much that the White Sox beat the Cubs, 3-1, on Tuesday night. It was the way the Sox beat the Cubs that provoked so much discussion.

Eloy Jimenez, the Sox left fielder and former top Cubs prospect, hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning off Pedro Strop to break a 1-1 tie. Sox closer Alex Colome worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth for his 15th save in as many chances, and that was that.

But Cubs fans are pretty unhappy about this one, with a player that their front office traded away coming back to haunt them while wearing a Sox uniform.

This result has provoked a new round of discontent about the July 13, 2017, trade that saw the Sox send left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana to the North Side in exchange for Jimenez, Dylan Cease, Bryant Flete and Matt Rose.

Cubs fans are feeling their team gave up "too much" for Quintana, whom they perceive as a bottom-of-the-rotation pitcher. I saw one comment on Facebook this morning where someone indicated the Cubs never should have made the deal because "they were not a powerhouse" in 2017.

I think this is all foolish. Quintana has helped the Cubs for the past two years. I don't think they make the playoffs, let alone the National League Championship Series, in 2017 if they don't make the trade. In case we forgot, the Cubs were 43-45 at the time of the deal. They finished that season 93-69 and won the NL Central, with Quintana going 7-3 for them in 14 starts.

Jimenez is a rookie in the major leagues, and a promising one at that. His home run last night was his 12th of the season, and we're not even halfway through the year. Cease is expected to be in the major leagues before 2019 is over. Flete and Rose are no longer in the Sox organization, so forget about them.

Did the Cubs give up too much? Maybe. It depends on the career arc of Jimenez and Cease. Both are still young, and it's not clear just how good they will be.

My assessment: The trade has helped the Cubs and is continuing to help the Cubs. The trade is starting to help the Sox and will continue to help the Sox going forward. I would have said that before Tuesday's game, and I say that now.

In baseball, you can't wildly change your assessment about players and trades based upon one game.

I disagree with the idea that Quintana is a bottom-of-the-rotation pitcher. Line up his numbers with Jon Lester's, and there isn't that much of a difference. (Worth noting, Lester is revered by Cubs fans):

Quintana in 2017: 7-3, 3.74 ERA in 14 starts, 1.103 WHIP, 10.5 K/9, 7.7 H/9, 2.2 BB/9
Lester in 2017: 13-8, 4.33 ERA in 32 starts, 1.323 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, 8.9 H/9, 3.0 BB/9

Quintana in 2018: 13-11, 4.03 ERA in 32 starts, 1.319 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, 8.4 H/9, 3.5 BB/9
Lester in 2018: 18-6, 3.32 ERA in 32 starts, 1.310 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 8.6 H/9, 3.2 BB/9

Quintana in 2019: 4-6, 3.87 ERA in 14 starts, 1.339 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 9.1 H/9, 2.9 BB/9
Lester in 2019: 5-5, 4.08 ERA in 13 starts, 1.344 WHIP, 8.8 K/9, 9.9 H/9, 2.2 BB/9

Look at those peripherals, folks. There isn't a big disparity here, and this isn't a small sample size. I'm not sure I understand the contempt for Quintana among many in the North Side fan base.

If Cubs management declines the team option on Quintana this offseason, I'd take him back on the South Side without a second thought. He's clearly better than Ivan Nova and Odrisamer Despaigne, you know?