
Mets NL Nemesis Stroke Again!: Mets Free Agent Finally Finds New Home With $4-5 Million Contract; Creating a Battlefield for Unclaimed Iglesias and Martinez….
Jose Quintana, who won 10 games for the New York Mets last season before lingering in free agency into March, has finally found a new home.
The veteran pitcher is in agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers on a one-year contract, according to multiple reports Monday. Robert Murray of FanSided was first to report the news.
According to Francys Romero, Quintana’s contract pays $4-5 million plus incentives.
Quintana, 36, is a former All-Star who has 13 seasons of experience at the major league level (2012-24) with the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals and Mets.
Last season marked the fourth time in the last 11 seasons Quintana made at least 30 starts while qualifying for an ERA title. Despite his track record, teams were ostensibly scared off by Quintana’s age — or his contract demands.
Now, he’ll join a Brewers team looking to defend its National League Central title, while leaving an injury-riddled Mets rotation behind.
Milwaukee’s rotation already boasted a blend of old and young, led by veteran right-hander Freddy Peralta and rookie sensation Tobias Myers. Left-hander Nestor Cortes added a dash of World Series experience when he arrived in a December trade with the New York Yankees, and right-hander Aaron Civale gave manager Pat Murphy another back-of-the-rotation arm with experience.
Quintana gives Murphy another experienced option and takes the pressure off left-hander Aaron Ashby, who looked shaky last season in two starts after returning from a serious shoulder injury.
Mets right-hander Frankie Montas (right lat strain) and left-hander Sean Manaea (oblique strain) are both set to start the season on the injured list because of injuries diagnosed in camp.
Rather than reuniting with Quintana, the Mets signed veteran right-hander Jose Ureña to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training in February.
Quintana established himself as one of the best pitchers in the American League with the White Sox a decade ago. His run in Chicago culminated with an AL All-Star appearance in 2016, when he went 13-12 with a 3.20 ERA (126 ERA+).
The following year, Quintana was packaged to the Chicago Cubs in a rare midseason trade between the cross-town rivals.
The Brewers will be Quintana’s sixth team in the last five seasons.
Unclaimed Players: Jose Iglesias and J.D. Martinez
With Quintana’s departure from the free agent pool, the spotlight now shifts to two other notable members of the Mets’ lineup who are still in search of a team for the upcoming season. Jose Iglesias and J.D. Martinez find themselves in a unique position as they navigate the competitive landscape of free agency, hoping to secure a spot on a team before the season kicks off.