New Chicago White Sox ace Quintana still answering trade questions
Not long after meeting the media during the first day of spring training, Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jose Quintana said he would no longer be answering questions about trade rumors.
A few days later, while being interviewed by MLB Network, Quintana was asked for his thoughts about being traded.
He gave a polite answer, and Quintana still was being asked about his uncertain status after Sunday's workout at Guaranteed Rate Field.
"My future is the present," said Quintana, who starts for the Sox in Monday's season opener against the Detroit Tigers. "It's the present. My future is here. I have to just control this year. I pay attention to right now."
Quintana actually has been answering trade questions since last July, and there is a very good chance he will be moved when general manager Rick Hahn gets the right package of young players in return for the valuable left-hander.
Nothing seems to bother Quintana when he's on the mound, but he's becoming uncomfortable talking about trades.
"We don't have control over that," he said. "We are players and we just go play. But I'm happy. I like it here. I like my teammates, the organization; they gave me the opportunity to play in the big leagues. But we don't have control about rumors or trades. I don't spend time with that."
Since Quintana is still on the roster, there is no question he deserves to start the White Sox's first game of the season.
An all-star in 2016, Quintana is one of only six major-league pitchers to have 30-plus starts and 200-plus innings in each of the last four seasons.
"He has a body of work that precedes him," manager Rick Renteria said. "You start to fall in love with him. The more you watch him pitch, the more you see him work, it's really easy to fall in love with the things he's capable of doing. He's very calm demeanored, very focused, all his preparations and outings are the same, executing his task."
May day:
Not only is Jacob May in the White Sox's opening-day lineup, the rookie center fielder is going to make his major-league debut Monday assuming predicted steady rain stays away from the South Side.
"It's such a blessing to even be here," said May, who got an opportunity to play when Charlie Tilson missed most of spring training with a stress reaction in his right foot. "You're around these guys, these guys are teammates, but this is a family. They're like your brothers.
"We go out there, have fun, we joke around, but we have each other's back and we play hard. It's been an awesome experience, and I can't wait for tomorrow."
Roster moves:
The White Sox got their roster down to 25 on Sunday after placing starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (left-biceps bursitis), Charlie Tilson (foot) and reliever Juan Minaya (right-abdominal strain) on the 10-day disabled list.
The Sox purchased the contracts of designated hitter/infielder Cody Asche, catcher Geovany Soto and reliever Anthony Swarzak.