Inside The Cardinals

Here's Why Cardinals Should Consider One-Year Deal Reunion With All-Star Southpaw

St. Louis could benefit from reuniting with the left-handed pitcher
Nate Hagerty|
Aug 4, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; (Editors note: in camera multiple exposure) St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jose Quintana (63) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Aug 4, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; (Editors note: in camera multiple exposure) St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jose Quintana (63) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

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St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are having one of the quietest offseasons among all 30 franchises but there's plenty of time left for them to make additions.

Although the Cardinals are rebuilding and committed to allowing their youth core to run the show in 2025, considering a reunion with a former All-Star hurler who surprisingly isn't garnering much attention this winter might not be such a bad idea.

Former St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana is searching for his next landing spot in the free-agent market. For whatever reason, he hasn't been involved in many rumors and speculations this winter but perhaps the 11-time World Series champions should consider a reunion.

Quintana logged a 3-2 record with a 2.01 ERA, 48-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .238 batting average against and a 1.12 WHIP during the second half of the 2022 season for the Cardinals.

The 36-year-old's projected market value is roughly $8.4 million annually, according to Spotrac. The Cardinals should have the payroll flexibility to re-sign him on a one-year deal at a similar rate.

What makes Quintana an intriguing option for the Cardinals is that he could be a valuable asset at this year's trade deadline. Teams desperately hunting for rotation depth before heading into the postseason could look to St. Louis for help if he is re-signed as a rental option.

In 2024, Quintana posted a 10-10 record with a 3.75 ERA, 135-to-63 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .237 batting average against and a 1.25 WHIP in 170 1/3 innings pitched for the New York Mets. There's no apparent reason why he shouldn't be able to compete similarly in 2025.

Even if the Cardinals don't receive much in return for moving Quintana at the trade deadline, at least reuniting with him will give fans something to look forward to. There's no telling how this upcoming season will pan out for St. Louis but re-signing the veteran southpaw would certainly increase the club's odds of success.

More MLB: Beloved Ex-Cardinals All-Star Linked To Braves As Club Looks For Rotation Stability

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Nate Hagerty
NATE HAGERTY

Nate Hagerty joined “Inside The Cardinals” as a content creator to spread knowledge about his favorite childhood team. A hometown native of Boston, Hagerty chose at an early age of six years old to follow the St. Louis Cardinals. The miraculous season of 04’ for the Red Sox did not deter Hagerty from rooting against his hometown team, nor did it in 2013 against the Red Birds. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu 

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