LA Angels: Grading GM Perry Minasian this offseason (Part 2)

The Angels grabbed their first starting pitcher of the offseason, after signing Jose Quintana to a one-year, $8 million deal. Quintana has some previous ties with manager Joe Maddon during their time with the Cubs from 2017-2019.

Quintana was great during his tenure with the other Chicago team, the White Sox, where he posted an ERA+ of 118 with 781 strikeouts in a total of 951 innings of work during a span from 2012-2016. He was traded to the Cubs during the 2017 season, and then things went downhill from there.

Jose Quintana could be the most reliable option for the Angels starting rotation this season.

The left-hander averaged an ERA+ of 100, which is right around league average, as well as 529 strikeouts in only 544 innings of work through 2017-2020. While he was dealing with an injury during the 2020 season, which cut his short season even shorter. Making the trade worse for the Cubs was giving up Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease with the hopes Quintana would have a lasting impact.

Something was not working for Quintana on the North Side of Chicago, and now he will try to rebound with the Angels.

The Halos are hoping Quintana can return to his Chicago White Sox form, and only at a one-year deal, so they won’t be financially restrained. Quintana could also be used it as a trade chip if he figures things out and the Angels don’t compete. However, given how barren the Angels starting rotation is, it doesn’t seem likely.

While this isn’t the move that can put the Angels over the top, it does provide the team a reliable left-handed option in the team’s rotation that could give the team some innings. The Angels will have to see how he progresses after coming off an injury.

From what Quintana has posted on social media, he looks poised to make a strong comeback.