The Houston Astros have been one of the teams most involved in the ever-evolving Jose Quintana trade talks. After building a dominant offense through a powerful farm system, the team is now looking to add Quintana to bolster their pitching rotation. This would give Houston an impressive 1-2 punch of former CY Young winner Dallas Keuchel and Quintana atop their rotation, which could help them push the Indians and Red Sox for the American League Championship.
Earlier in the day Jon Morosi reported that the Astros were one of the more serious teams interested in Quintana; however, Morosi didn’t reveal any prospects that would be heading to Chicago in the deal. A new report gives a bit more insight as to what the White Sox would receive from the Astros in a potential Quintana deal.
José Quintana trade talks continue, sources say, with #Astros among the most serious suitors. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 6, 2017
According to Sports Mockery’s own Sean Sears, the Astros are offering pitcher Francis Martes, outfielder Kyle Tucker and pitcher David Paulino in a deal for Quintana.
The #Astros are willing to part with Tucker, Martes, and Paulino for #Sox Jose Quintana, per source
— Sean Sears (@sean_sears6) January 6, 2017
Martes is currently the Astros top prospect and the 29th best prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline.
Martes has appeared in 68 minor league games, reaching AA in 2016. He holds a career 23-15 record with a 2.97 ERA and a 307/112 K/BB ratio.
The Astros prospect is one of the best pitchers in the minor leagues. With the White Sox, he would join an already impressive cast of potential future aces. Putting him in a rotation already featuring Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech, Carson Fulmer and Reynaldo Lopez would give the White Sox one of the most dominant units in the league moving forward.
Tucker is the Astros second best prospect and the 50th best prospect in baseball.
The 20-year-old outfielder has appeared in 180 minor league games, hitting .271 with 12 home runs, 102 RBI and 50 stolen bases. Tucker is one of the best pure hitters in the minor leagues and has a real chance to be a consistent 20/20 hitter once he reaches the majors. Tucker would likely be the White Sox center fielder of the future as well as a staple towards the top of Chicago’s lineup for years to come.
Paulino is currently the Astros 4th best prospect and the 70th best prospect in baseball.
Paulino has appeared in 48 minor league games, reaching AAA in 2016. He holds a career 13-9 record with a 2.20 ERA and a 219/50 K/BB ratio. Paulino is a giant standing 6’7″ and has the ability to be a top of the rotation starter, but coming off of Tommy John surgery, he may be best suited for the bullpen. Regardless he would be a lethal pitching threat for the White Sox in the rotation or out of the bullpen.
Overall, adding these three prospects would be quite the haul for the White Sox. Chicago would have a league leading nine prospects inside the top 100. All three provide enormous value and would unarguably give the White Sox the best farm system in the major.
It’ll all come down to how the Astros feel about Quintana and if they truly feel comfortable in trading three top prospects.
In the end, Houston seems very likely to land the services of Jose Quintana before the 2017 season. If that becomes the case, then the White Sox could land three top 100 prospects in return.
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