Left-hand pitcher Jose Quintana didn’t have to wait too long to find a new club after being deemed surplus by the LA Angels. Quintana was promptly claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants on Monday and added to their 40-man roster instead of right-hander Tyler Chatwood.
Quintana joined the Angels in the offseason, inking a one-year, $8 million deal with the organization. He struggled to make an impact, making 10 starts early in the season and going 0-3. After that, the 32-year-old slinger was dropped to the bullpen where he performed a lot better. As a reliever, he has a 3.93 ERA and 22 strikeouts.
The Giants have a capable and productive rotation, which is why they probably don’t look at Quintana as a starter in any capacity. He will most likely serve as bullpen depth and a counter against left-handed hitters. Despite his struggles, Quintana remained efficient against lefties, who are managing just a .180 batting average when facing him this season.
Jose Quintana had his best pitching days with the Chicago White Sox, where he played between 2012 and 2017 and earned one All-Star appearance. He spent the following three seasons with the Chicago Cubs, but his production significantly declined during that time. Quintana also famously missed the most of the 2020 season with the Cubs due to a thumb injury he suffered while washing dishes.
Quintana has made 257 starts in the majors and has an 83–80 career record with 3.83 ERA and 1,383 strikeouts.
