A former Cardinals pitcher is reportedly being linked to an NL West team as the offseason draws to a close.
The St. Louis Cardinals have had a quiet offseason, primarily focused on attempting to trade Nolan Arenado, although they’ve yet to find a deal. If Arenado is moved, it would free up space to make other additions through free agency, as the Cardinals aim to reduce their payroll.
Several former Cardinals players remain unsigned, but it’s unlikely they’ll return to St. Louis.
One of those players is left-hander José Quintana, who is still a free agent after a solid season with the New York Mets. According to Chad Jennings of The Athletic, Quintana is likely to sign with the San Diego Padres.
“If the Padres continue to explore trades for Dylan Cease or Michael King, they’ll need another arm to fill the innings. With Quintana’s solid season and the Padres’ need for pitching depth, he could be a strong option,” Jennings wrote.
The 36-year-old pitched the second half of 2022 with the Cardinals after being traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates and even started Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series, where he shut out the Phillies. Last season, Quintana went 10-10 with a 3.75 ERA in 31 starts, logging 170 1/3 innings. With the Padres actively seeking starters, Quintana could be a good fit for their rotation.
It wouldn’t hurt the Cardinals to consider bringing him back if they can trade Arenado, given their pitching staff remains a question mark heading into 2025.
Leave a Reply