PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 26: Jose Quintana #62 of the Chicago Cubs delivers a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 26, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
Jose Quintana is making his return to the active roster
The Chicago Cubs are sitting in first place in the National League Central and are getting reinforcements as the second half of the short season approaches.
Jose Quintana and Tyler Chatwood have been activated as the pitching staff regains two valuable members. Chatwood is set to get his rotation spot back, while Quintana will be in an unfamiliar role as a relief pitcher.
Jose Quintana’s new role and opportunity
Quintana joined the Cubs during the 2017 season and has a 4.23 ERA during his time with the club. He is set to be a free agent following the 2020 season and could earn himself a nice new contract as a reliever if he proves this role better suits him.
Chatwood is also a free agent following the season and has been a bit of a disappointment since joining the team in 2018. His ERA with the Cubs is up at 4.70 and he was even sent to the bullpen last season.
Both players entered 2020 set to earn over $10 million, before their salaries are trimmed, as both are also 30 or older. The finish to this season could determine their respective earning potential moving forward.
Getting Quintana in the bullpen will be a fascinating experiment. He has been a starter since debuting in 2012 with the Chicago White Sox. However, his innings and strikeouts have gone down in recent years and coming out of the bullpen could increase the length of his career.
Quintana is still a candidate for the rotation this year if Chatwood struggles or if there are any injuries, so he has a chance to prove he still belongs. But if the Cubs want to save money in the rotation with Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks making big money, paying Quintana as a reliever can help the team in several ways.