Blue Jays Rumors: Talks 'intensifying' with playoff-tested lefty starter

The Toronto Blue Jays are looking to make it back to the playoffs after a rough 2024 campaign kept them out of the postseason. Despite high expectations, as always, their 74-88 record left them finishing at the bottom of the AL East. They are hoping it was a one-off and they can fight their way out of the bottom without having to go through a long rebuild.

As they head toward their new campaign, they have been looking to improve their pitching depth. At the very least, Toronto needs to know they're handing the ball to someone sturdy every day, and must fill the innings they lost after Yusei Kikuchi's trade deadline departure. According to recent reports, talks between the Blue Jays and a playoff-tested pitcher, Jose Quintana, have intensified. 

He isn’t the first pitcher they have been connected to, as they have also been linked to Marcus Stroman and Jack Flaherty in recent days, as well as closer Ryan Helsley. However, Quintana might be a stronger option, considering his veteran presence, durability and playoff experience, which is exactly what the Blue Jays are looking for. 

Who is Jose Quintana & What Might He Cost the Blue Jays?

Quintana, who is 35 years old, posted a 3.75 ERA with 135 strikeouts and a 1.25 WHIP through 170.1 innings pitched with the New York Mets last season. He has been in MLB since 2012, spending time with the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals. He was an AL All-Star with the White Sox in 2016.

Throughout his career, he has a 3.74 ERA with a 102-103 record and 1,727 strikeouts. He had pitched in the minor leagues with the Yankees before signing as a free agent with the White Sox, debuting with them on May 7, 2012.

In terms of what it may cost to bring him to Toronto, we could look at his previous contract and consider how much money the Blue Jays are willing to spend. They made it clear in their pursuit of superstar Juan Soto that they were willing to spend big to improve their team.

Quintana is coming off of a two-year, $26 million deal with the Mets. Realistically, the Blue Jays should be willling to match that, if not pay a bit more to bring him in.

While it represents minimal experience, Quintana still has eight games played in the postseason with an impressive 3.55 ERA and 28 strikeouts. If the Blue Jays are hoping to make a push for the postseason and need someone they can trust to help them make a potential run for a World Series, he would be the closest thing to a perfect fit.