Report: Yankees Interested In White Sox's Quintana
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Looking to upgrade their rotation, the Yankees have reportedly expressed interest in trading for White Sox All-Star pitcher Jose Quintana.
Citing an unnamed source, MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Monday on the Bronx Bombers' interest in the left-hander, adding that New York has the sort of high-level prospects the White Sox are seeking.
Quintana, who turns 28 next month, was 13-12 with a 3.20 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 208 innings last season.
He is scheduled to earn $7 million next year, $8.85 million in 2018 and has team options for 2019 and 2020 for $10.5 million each.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said at the start of the offseason that he wanted to improve the team's pitching -- both in the rotation and in the bullpen. To date, New York has only added closer Aroldis Chapman.
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The Yankees have seven or eight pitchers who could vie for the five starting spots, but only ace Masahiro Tanaka isn't accompanied by major question marks. CC Sabathia will turn 37 next season. Michael Pineda and Luis Severino struggled in 2016. Luis Cessa, Chad Green and Bryan Mitchell all lack experience. And Adam Warren has mostly worked out of the bullpen.
The White Sox are clearly in sell mode after trading ace Chris Sale to the Red Sox and sending steady-hitting outfielder Adam Eaton to the Nationals.
The Astros and Braves also have reportedly expressed interest in Quintana but have found the White Sox's asking price to be too high.
The Colombian pitcher played in the Yankees' farm system from 2008-11. He signed with the White Sox as a minor league free agent before the 2012 season.
