The Los Angeles Angels recently signed their first free agent of the offseason, landing Noah Syndergaard from the New York Mets. Now, they are reportedly losing their first free agent, with Jose Quintana potentially on his way to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Quintana signed with the Angels on a one-year, $8 million deal for 2021 with the team in need of a sixth starter. Quintana and Joe Maddon had a close relationship from their time with the Chicago Cubs, and Maddon felt that Quintana could thrive in the team’s six-man rotation.
Instead, Quintana had by far the worst stretch of his career. He pitched 53.1 innings for the Halos, compiling a 6.75 ERA, a 1.781 WHIP, and nearly five walks per nine innings. He was ultimately released by the Angels and picked up by the San Francisco Giants, where he finished out the regular season.
Now, Quintana is headed to the Pirates on what is reportedly a one-year, $2 million contract, according to Robert Murray of FanSided:
Free-agent pitcher Jose Quintana in agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates, pending physical, according to sources familiar with the situation.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) November 21, 2021
The Pirates are always in need of starting pitching, and perhaps a veteran presence like Quintana can help to develop some of their younger pitchers. The deal is a low-risk, but low-reward move for Pittsburgh.
The Angels are looking much higher than Quintana for their starters, as they spent $21 million on Syndergaard and should still be in the market for another frontline guy. Robbie Ray, Max Scherzer, Carlos Rodon, and others could be among their top targets.
Quintana’s Angels tenure was short-lived and disappointing, and he’ll be added to the growing list of low-cost, one-year gambles the Angels took a chance on over the past five seasons.
Syndergaard credits Minasian for recruitment
One of the reasons the Angels were able to poach Syndergaard from the Mets and give him one of their biggest pitching contracts in recent memory is the recruitment effort of Perry Minasian.
Syndergaard credited the Angels general manager, complimenting his knowledge of pitching and how their conversation over dinner in New York is what convinced him to make the move out west.