Pirates Takeaways: Quintana Not Sweating Trade, What About Newman? (+)
Jose Quintana reached an impressive career milestone with the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this season when he accrued 10 years of major league service.
Most importantly, it means the Pirates left-hander became fully vested in the Major League Baseball Players Association’s pension plan. It also means Quintana has been around a long time.
The 33-year-old knows how the business of baseball works. Thus, he realizes his start with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night in a 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in 10 innings at PNC Park was likely his last.
The MLB trade deadline is Tuesday. Multiple contending teams have talked to the Pirates about acquiring Quintana, who is eligible for free agency at season’s end.
The Pirates almost certainly will deal him. His stock likely got even a little bit higher after he pitched 5.2 scoreless innings in a game in which the bullpen blew a 2-0 lead.
Phillies’ first baseman Rhys Hoskins certainly thinks Quintana could help a contender during the stretch run.
“Quintana was good,” Hoskins said. “Mixed his pitches well. Mixed his speeds well. He kept us off balance. He’s a quality big league pitcher.”
This is Quintana’s first season with the Pittsburgh Pirates after signing a one-year, $2-million contract as a free agent in November. He has used the season to regain his form, going 3-5 with a 3.50 ERA in 20 starts.
It is quite a departure from the previous two seasons, when he went a combined 0-3 with a 6.16 ERA in 33 games (11 starts) for the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, and San Francisco Giants.
“I think the opportunity I get here to prove I (can) be a starter, that’s huge,” Quintana said. “That’s really good for my career. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m a Pirate right now. I have the jersey.
“I know all the things around me happen right now but I’m just going to enjoy. I’ve been in this situation before. Just going to keep going and see what happens.”
Does Newman Have Trade Value?
Kevin Newman’s name has not been popping up in trade rumors, which is somewhat surprising since he has lost his starting shortstop job to rookie Oneil Cruz. Newman was a National League Gold Glove finalist last season.
However, scouts from two different contending teams have indicated they feel Newman could help a playoff hopeful with his solid defense at shortstop as well as second base and third base.
Newman went 3 for 5 for the Pirates with a pair of doubles on Friday night after having a two-hit game in Thursday night’s 8-7 loss to the Phillies.
Since being activated July 8 following a 2.5-month stint on the injured list, Newman has hit .296 in 16 games. That has lifted his season average from .250 to .277.
Newman says the trade deadline is not a distraction to him or the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“As you get later in your career, you learn to separate the two,” Newman said. “But when I was younger, it’s definitely something you think about. From my experience here, with these guys, we’ve done a really good job of keeping the outside noise outside. Showing up every day and continuing to work hard and get better. I think that’s what we’re going to continue to do.
Straight Down The Middle
Hoskins won the game for the Phillies when he led off the 10th inning with a two-run home run off Duane Underwood Jr. on an 0-2 count to break a 2-2 tie. Underwood didn’t make a very good pitch.
“Not sure what the pitch was or what the speed was, but it ended up in the middle of the plate,” Hoskins said. “You can’t miss those pitches. You just can’t miss them.”
The perpetually upbeat Shelton clearly was unhappy with Underwood, whose ERA has jumped from 2.63 on June 4 to 4.18 over his last 13 relief appearances.
“Mis-execution. Misses right down the middle to a guy who has hit 20 homers,” Shelton said. “You just can’t do that. You have to execute pitches.”