As Opening Day marches closer, Jose Quintana remains on the Chicago White Sox. Although the left-hander saw massive interest for most of the offseason, no team was able to match what General Manger Rick Hahn was asking for.

While Quintana enters the season with the White Sox, there’s no guarantee he ends the year on the South Side. There’s a very good chance the team moves him around the Trade Deadline.

In terms of who could trade for him, the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates remain the favorites. However it had been widely reported that both teams are being “passive” on the Quintana trade front.

If that remains the case, it appears as if a new team could sneak up and make a move for the White Sox ace.

Jon Heyman of Fan Rag Sports recently reported that the St. Louis Cardinals could be a “sleeper” team to land Jose Quintana. He wrote:

Word is, the Chicago White Sox believe the perceived favorites Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates have been largely “passive” in their pursuits of Jose Quintana. If that’s the case, someone else such as the St. Louis Cardinals could sneak in and grab Quintana.

While the belief now is that Quintana won’t be traded until closer to the trade deadline, the Cardinals could be a sleeper team for Quintana. Word is, they have quietly showed interest in the White Sox pitching ace, and the Cardinals have the combination of young players and prospects to make it work.

Perfect Fit

The Cardinals rotation isn’t as bad as the Astros or Pirates. But it would certainly benefit from a guy like Jose Quintana.

Currently Carlos Martinez is slated to start Opening Day followed by: Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha, Lance Lynn and Mike Leake. Top prospect Alex Reyes was supposed to make the leap to the MLB this season, however he will spend the year on the DL after undergoing Tommy John Surgery.

To demonstrate what Quintana would offer the Cardinals, we’re going to play a game. Below is going to be the 2016 stat line of Wacha, Leake and Quintana in no particular order. Since Lynn was injured in 2016, he won’t be featured. Your job is to pick which pitcher you would rather have in your rotation.

Pitcher 1: 9-12, 4.69 ERA, 125/30 K/BB ratio in 30 games and 176.2 innings

Pitcher 2: 13-12, 3.20 ERA, 181/50 K/BB ratio in 32 games and 208 innings

Pitcher 3: 7-7, 5.09 ERA, 114/45 K/BB ratio in 27 games and 138 innings

I’m assuming most of you would’ve picked Pitcher 2 as he had the most wins, strikeouts and innings while holding the lowest ERA. If that was the case, then you in fact picked Jose Quintana. Pitcher 1 was Mike Leake and Pitcher 3 was Michael Wacha.

Quintana has thrown atleast 200 innings and 160 strikeouts in the MLB. He offers the Cardinals consistency and would give St. Louis one of the most deadly combination atop the rotation with Carlos Martinez.

What Would It Cost?

Heyman didn’t disclose who the Cardinals would be willing to offer. While it’s all speculation at this point, St. Louis does have a few prospects in their farm system who could intrigue the White Sox.

Catcher Carson Kelly is a name that jumps off the page. MLB Pipeline currently has him ranked as the Cardinals’ second best prospect and the 39th best prospect in baseball. In 471 minor league games, Kelly has hit .248 with 35 home runs and 202 RBIs.

Kelly is arguably the best catcher in the minor leagues. Adding him would allow the White Sox to move Zack Collins to first base on a full-time basis. Kelly’s defensive behind the dish is unparalleled. The Cardinals seem focused on signing Yadier Molina to a long-term extension, meaning that Kelly could possibly be had in a trade.

Another option would be shortstop Delvin Perez, who MLB Pipeline ranks as the Cardinals fourth best prospect and the 91st best prospect in baseball. In his professional debut, Perez hit .294 with 19 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.

At just 18, Perez needs much more time in the minor-leaguers. But he offers elite speed and could potentially be the White Sox third baseman of the future. An infield of Collins, Moncada, Anderson and Perez could wreak havoc in the MLB for years to come.

Outside of Kelly and Perez the Cardinals have intriguing prospects in Harrison Bader, Luke Weaver and many others. There’s also a chance that St. Louis is willing to move MLB level talent.

Sports Mockery’s own Sean Sears is reporting that the Cardinals could move Kolten Wong in a deal for Quintana.

Wong obviously wouldn’t be the headliner, but he has fared well during his MLB career. In 416 major league games, Wong has hit .248 with 28 home runs, 126 RBIs and 45 stolen bases. Wong has proven he can hit MLB pitching, and could perhaps shift to center field on the South Side.

For now, fans are left in the dark for what the Cardinals could potentially offer for Quintana. However while they don’t get as much credit as the Astros or Pirates, St. Louis has more than enough young talent to pull off a trade for the White Sox ace.

Author’s Reaction

The Cardinals make a ton of sense as a potential landing spot for Jose Quintana. As they look to battle the Cubs in the NL Central, adding a pitcher of Quintana’s value could help them gain groud.

St. Louis also has the prospect pool to get a deal done. The Cardinals are poised to be ready to compete for a very long time. While having a good future is important, I’m sure the team cares more about a chance to win the World Series.

However the Cardinals rotation isn’t as bad as the Astros or Pirates. There’s a chance that St. Louis is outbid by Houston or Pittsburgh. It’ll come to how bad the Cardinals want the White Sox ace.

Overall, the Jose Quintana trade talks aren’t going away anytime soon. There’s a good chance he is moved at the Trade Deadline, but if Rick Hahn is unimpressed, he will continue to hold on the his prized possession.

It’s yet to be seen where he will end up, but the Cardinals have thrown their hat in the ring, and could be serious competitors to the Chicago Cubs if they added Jose Quintana.

Feel free to continue the conversation on Twitter: @DFappiano14