Chicago White Sox's Quintana blocks out trade rumors
When he's on the mound, nothing ever seems to bother Jose Quintana.
No matter if it's a familiar lack of run support or poor defense, Quintana always blocks out the bad stuff and usually gives the Chicago White Sox a chance to win.
This winter, Quintana is coolly dealing with another obstacle - trade rumors.
The Sox started rebuilding in early December when they dealt Chris Sale to the Red Sox and Adam Eaton to the Nationals.
Quintana is the White Sox's one remaining player capable of bringing back three or four more talented prospects, but general manager Rick Hahn is still holding out for the best possible package.
Appearing at SoxFest Friday at Hilton Chicago, Quintana was anything but rattled by all of the speculation, which has actually cooled a bit since Christmas.
"I'm happy to be here again at my second SoxFest," Quintana said. "I never think about trades. I just have my focus on this year to do my job, and that's it. I just try to make my preparation for the season. I don't have control over the trades. I'm never focused on that."
Hahn didn't come right out and say he's trying to move Quintana, but it's an obvious next step.
Of course, interested teams like the Astros, Pirates and Yankees would have to up their current offers to land Quintana, who is 46-46 with a 3.41 ERA in five seasons in the Sox's starting rotation.
The 28-year-old lefty has pitched 200 or more innings in each of the last four seasons and Quintana is owed just under $16 million total the next two seasons and he has club options for $10.5 million in 2019 and $11.5 million in '20.
"The way I'd characterize it is the same way after we did the (Eaton) trade, and that is if we had our druthers we would continue to make transactions like that one and the Sale deal in rapid succession," Hahn said. "Our desire is to get through this process and build a sustainable core of talented players as quickly as possible.
"Unfortunately our desire, our impatience, our eagerness isn't what's going to dictate this market or the schedule of these moves. The timing of many of these moves is going to be based upon the market and our ability to get similar value and what we feel is appropriate value."
Is Hahn worried about players like Quintana being distracted by all of the trade talk?
"It's obviously out there," Hahn said. "We're all aware of it. I'm aware of it. I'm sure the players, when they see their names, they're aware of it. It's just the nature of the business now and the day and age we live in."
Todd Frazier came over to the White Sox in a trade from the Reds last winter, and the third baseman could be moved again this year.
"Not awkward," Frazier said. "We know the business, how it is. I talked with Rick yesterday, everything looks pretty good. I probably still could get traded, you never know, that's just the way it goes. But my focus, right now, is on spring training and building relationships right now with the team."
If Quintana is the next White Sox veteran to go, his calm demeanor will be missed in the clubhouse.
"It's tough to see that," Sox starter Carlos Rodon said. "Hope it doesn't happen, but it's out of our control. We're here to play baseball and Q's focused on the season. He's focused on playing for this team right now and whatever happens, happens."