Another MLB trade deadline domino has fallen. The St. Louis Cardinals have bolstered their rotation by adding a veteran from their own division. The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to trade Jose Quintana to the Cardinals. MLB insider Jeff Passan broke the news this evening
Jose Quintana Trade Details
Cardinals receive: LHP Jose Quintana
Pirates receive: RHP Johan Oviedo & 3B Malcom Nunez
Quintana is a 33-year-old starting pitcher who was just picked up by Pittsburgh this offseason on a one-year deal. To acquire his services, St. Louis gave up one big leaguer and a prospect.
Oviedo is a 24-year-old pitcher who has bounced between the Cardinals’ MLB roster and triple-A Memphis. He has started, but has seen more work in the majors this season as a reliever. Nunez is a 21-year-old third baseman who was most recently with the Cardinals’ double-A affiliate in Springfield.
Cardinals Add to The Rotation
Pitching was certainly a need for St. Louis heading into the deadline. More specifically, the Cardinals needed more lefty arms. Over the weekend, they added JoJo Romero, a lefty reliever from Philadelphia, in exchange for shortstop Edmundo Sosa. Now it seems they have added another lefty, this time a starter, in Jose Quintana. The former Pirate has been solid this year, posting a 3.50 ERA on a dismal team. Having a defensive upgrade behind him could improve that number.
Still, Quintana does seem like a consolation prize after the Cardinals missed out on Frankie Montas. However, this might be a blessing in disguise. First of all, Quintana being left-handed provides better balance to a right-hand-heavy rotation. Second of all, he was a much better bargain, as the Cardinals gave up almost nothing of consequence.
Oviedo is a struggling pitcher who has not contributed much this year, and Nunez was not even the best third baseman in their farm system right now. Montas would have likely cost a more significant prospect (or two) like a Jordan Walker or a Masyn Winn. Those were important prospects for the Cardinals to hold onto as they pursue a potential blockbuster trade for Juan Soto.
Pirates Had to Sell
Giving up Quintana was a no-brainer. Pittsburgh is the exact opposite of a competitive club right now. There is no point in holding onto a veteran starting pitcher on a one-year contract when wins are inconsequential. All he was doing at this point was eating innings away from younger pitchers and potentially hurting the team’s draft position.
In exchange, the Pirates got a decent haul. Oviedo is still relatively young and has plenty of time to turn things around. However, Nunez is the more promising asset. While he was buried in the St. Louis farm system, that may not be the case in Pittsburgh. He could have a much clearer path to the big leagues, although it may not be at third base.
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