Exciting Move: Brewers Set to Sign Star Pitcher Jose Quintana!

The Milwaukee Brewers have made a notable signing for their pitching rotation by agreeing to a one-year deal with veteran left-hander Jose Quintana. This contract is worth $4.25 million, which includes a $250,000 roster bonus and a $4 million base salary. Although the Brewers haven’t officially announced the signing yet, it brings a much-needed addition to their lineup. As they currently have a full 40-man roster, they’ll need to make room for Quintana once the deal is finalized.

At 36 years old, Quintana is among the top unsigned free agents with the season just weeks away. He just wrapped up a two-year contract with the New York Mets, where he posted decent overall results, although some of his underlying statistics suggested he could have performed better.

In the 2023 season, Quintana missed the start of the year due to a left rib fracture but returned to make 13 starts later on. He finished with an average of 3.57 earned runs per nine innings, but his strikeout rate dropped to 18.8%. The previous year, he stayed healthy and made 31 starts with a 3.75 ERA, but again, the strikeout rate remained low. His metrics indicated he may not have deserved those results, as shown by a 4.56 FIP and 4.57 SIERA.

Before his time with the Mets, Quintana had a strong bounce-back season in 2022, where he boasted a 2.93 ERA over 32 starts. He had a solid strikeout rate and good control, but his recent numbers show a decline. Since then, his ERA has hovered around 3.70 over 246 innings with strikeout and walk rates both moving in the wrong direction.

While Quintana may not be the flashiest option, he can provide valuable innings for the Brewers at a reasonable price. Early in the offseason, predictions had him securing a two-year deal worth around $20 million, similar to other mid-rotation pitchers. However, the pitching market cooled significantly, leading to him signing with Milwaukee for a deal that is comparable to a one-year contract he turned down from the Pirates.

The Brewers have been cautious with their finances this offseason, making only a couple of key acquisitions. Their pitching rotation faces uncertainty with several injuries impacting key players. Robert Gasser is recovering from Tommy John surgery and won’t return until at least late 2025. Brandon Woodruff is also in recovery from shoulder surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2024 season, while DL Hall has recently suffered a lat strain.

Currently, Freddy Peralta and Nestor Cortes are set to join Aaron Civale and Tobias Myers in the rotation. Civale recorded 161 innings last year, which was a personal best, while Myers had a solid debut with a 3.00 ERA, but it’s uncertain whether he can maintain that level of performance.

Other pitchers like Tyler Alexander—who has a career ERA of 4.55—and Aaron Ashby—who recently faced an oblique injury—are also in the mix. Alexander may find himself more solidly in a relief role, while Ashby could still have a chance to start but faces challenges after a tough season.

Even if Quintana’s past results indicate he might end up with a mid-4.00s ERA this year, the Brewers will benefit from his steady presence, especially given their rotation uncertainties and limited budget.

For teams still looking for pitching help, some notable free agents remain unsigned, including Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn, and Spencer Turnbull. On the trade front, options like Jordan Montgomery and Taijuan Walker could be explored, although their salaries may exceed what teams are willing to spend right now.

Robert Murray from FanSided first reported the Brewers’ agreement with Quintana. Additional details about his salary structure and incentives were confirmed by other sources.