Jose Quintana Traded to Cubs from White Sox for Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease, More

As the season slips away from them, the Chicago White Sox have capitalized on the opportunity to add more talent to their farm system by trading All-Star Jose Quintana to the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs announced Thursday that they sent outfielder Eloy Jimenez, right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease and infielders Matt Rose and Bryant Flete to the Cubs in exchange for the left-handed ace.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports offered more information on the prospects the White Sox have acquired:

White Sox GM Rick Hahn called the package they received for Quintana "far and away the best offer," per Chuck Garfien of CSN Chicago.  

The White Sox traded Chris Sale, the other half of their ace duo, to the Boston Red Sox in the offseason for a package that included prospects Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech.

The White Sox spent between $90 million and $119 million on team payroll every season from 2012 to 2016 but haven't made a playoff appearance since 2008.

Quintana got off to a slow start in 2017 with an ERA of 5.22 in April and 5.91 in May before looking like his usual self in June with a 1.78 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 30.1 innings.

Adding to the 28-year-old's value is his team-friendly contract. He signed a five-year extension before the 2014 season that will pay him $8.85 million next season with team options for 2019 and 2020, per Baseball Reference.

Quintana joins a staff that includes Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta, though the two star pitchers have struggled this season as both possess an ERA at 4.25 or higher and a WHIP of at least 1.30. The team's 4.10 ERA is still a respectable ninth in baseball, though the starting pitching has been an issue as the talent-laden Cubs have limped to a surprising 43-45 record.

For the defending champs, Quintana should help bolster a starting pitching staff in need of a jolt.

As for the White Sox, the team received a bounty in exchange for Quintana. Jimenez is MLB.com's No. 8 prospect and is hitting .271 with eight homers, 32 RBI and 23 runs in 42 games for High-A Myrtle Beach this season. He was also the Midwest League MVP in 2016.

Cease, meanwhile, is MLB.com's No. 63 prospect. He is 1-2 with a 2.79 ERA at Class-A South Bend.

Rose and Flete, both playing for Myrtle Beach, aren't as highly regarded. The former is hitting .227 with 14 homers and 38 RBI, while the latter has a .305 average with six homers and 37 RBI.