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A20 SPORTS
Friday 14 July 2017
Cubs acquire Quintana in blockbuster trade with White Sox

By ANDREW SELIGMAN who had to deal with every- majors.
AP Sports Writer thing from poor run support Ace Jon Lester got pound-
CHICAGO (AP) — The to the bullpen occasion- ed by Pittsburgh for 10 runs
Chicago Cubs found the ally letting him down, the in two-thirds of an inning
pitching help they were defense letting him down,” in his most recent start.
looking for just a few miles Hahn said. “He certainly Jake Arrieta, the 2015 NL
from Wrigley Field. They never complained, never Cy Young Award winner,
hope it will give the scuf- threw his arms up in the air, has been inconsistent. Kyle
fling team the kick it needs. never rolled his eyes, never Hendricks has been side-
The defending World Series expressed any displeasure lined since June 4 because
champions acquired left- with his teammates. In- of tendinitis in his right
handed ace Jose Quin- stead, he was always sup- hand, and John Lackey
tana from the White Sox on portive and continued to has a 5.20 ERA.
Thursday in a major trade go about his business and It was not clear when Quin-
between crosstown rivals set a wonderful example tana will make his Cubs de-
that could shake up the NL for the other young players but.
Central race. In this July 8, 2017, file photo, Chicago White Sox starting pitcher in our clubhouse.” “We know we’re getting a
By landing the 2016 All- Jose Quintana delivers against the Colorado Rockies in the first Epstein called the White very quality, a very consis-
Star, the Cubs made it inning of a baseball game, in Denver. Sox a “surprising dance tent starting pitcher who’s
clear they’re not giving up partner” because of their also a great person and
on a difficult season after proximity. great teammate,” Epstein
arriving at the break two ship drought last fall. They ter lately after a slow start But the deal makes sense said. “He couldn’t be a
games under .500. They believe they are set up to and is 4-8 with a 4.49 ERA in given each other’s needs. better fit for our situation.”
also added a pitcher who contend for years to come 18 starts this season. He won Quintana joins a team that Hahn said he and Epstein
figures to be a key piece in with stars such as Kris Bryant a career-high 13 games came into the season ex- exchanged text messages
the rotation for at least the and Anthony Rizzo. last season with a personal- pected to dominate again shortly after the draft. There
next few years. By trading for Quintana, best 3.20 ERA while making on the heels of a 103-win wasn’t much communica-
“We had a bad first half,” they brought in an elite his first All-Star team and is season. tion between them until
Cubs president of baseball starter who is under club 50-54 with a 3.51 ERA since Instead, the Cubs are strug- Hahn reached out on Sun-
operations Theo Epstein control through 2020. They debuting with the White gling to come through with day. Hahn told Epstein at
said. “We did. We own had to give up two top Sox in 2012. big hits. that point any trade would
that. We know we can do prospects in outfielder Eloy White Sox general man- They are batting .230 with have to involve Jimenez
better.” Jimenez and right-handed ager Rick Hahn said let- runners in scoring position and Cease.
The Cubs trail Milwaukee pitcher Dylan Cease along ting him go was a difficult — 27th in the majors. And Talks heated up over the
by 5 1/2 games in the di- with minor league infielders choice for the rebuilding the starting rotation has next few days before the
vision at 43-45 after end- Matt Rose and Bryant Flete. team. been shaky, with a 4.66 teams agreed to the deal
ing a 108-year champion- Quintana has pitched bet- “He’s a true professional ERA that ranks 17th in the on Wednesday night.q

Astros jors in runs, hits, home runs, experienced some of the
RBIs and batting average. same problems, but they
Perhaps most importantly, are in position for another
they also have a whopping October run at the top of
16 1/2-game lead in the AL the AL Central. “We defi-
Continued from Page 17 West, allowing them to go nitely believe in ourselves
Dodgers’ plus-163 run dif- slowly with Dallas Keuchel as a team. We know what
ferential is the best in Na- after the 2015 AL Cy Young we have here, what we’re
tional League history at the Award winner was shelved capable of,” Cubs second
All-Star break, according by a neck injury. baseman Ben Zobrist said.
to STATS LLC. “You don’t think you’re go- “Just got to execute better
Kershaw has been, well, ing to play that well but in the second half and re-
Kershaw, and Kenley Jan- you don’t think you’re go- ally turn on the burners.”
sen remains one of the ma- ing to play badly either,” Another starting pitcher
jors’ best closers. But rookie Springer said. “I’ll take it.” also could help the Cubs,
Cody Bellinger has provid- A year ago, the Cubs were so expect Theo Epstein
Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve, center, is celebrates with Carlos ed an unexpected lift with in the same position as the and company to be work-
Correa, right, and George Springer after hitting a two-run home 25 homers, and left-hander Dodgers and Astros, on top ing the phones all the way
run off Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher J.A. Happ during sec- Alex Wood is 10-0 with a of the game heading into to the non-waiver trade
ond-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Sunday, July 9, 1.67 ERA. “Every night it’s the second half of the sea- deadline on July 31. The As-
2017. somebody different, and son. They went on to their tros, Brewers, Rockies and
Associated Press that’s a sign of a good first World Series champi- sweet-swinging Yankees
The Dodgers and Astros well — is that there’s not team,” Dodgers manag- onship since 1908, but their also could be on the look-
are each on pace to win one specific thing you can er Dave Roberts said. “It title defense has been one out for rotation help.
100-plus games, something hone in on as to why we’re seems like I say depth ev- bumpy ride so far. Some possibilities include
that hasn’t happened for playing so well,” Dodgers ery single night, but that’s Hampered by injuries and White Sox left-hander Jose
two teams in a single sea- ace Clayton Kershaw said. probably been the biggest inconsistency, the Cubs Quintana, Athletics right-
son since the St. Louis Car- Los Angeles leads the ma- reason for our success.” are under .500 and trail hander Sonny Gray and
dinals and New York Yan- jors with a 61-29 record, The Astros are feeling surprising Milwaukee by 5 Tigers star Justin Verlander.
kees in 2004. one game better than pretty good, too. Led by 1/2 games in the NL Cen- Any one of those pitchers
“I don’t think there’s one Houston and 7 1/2 ahead All-Stars Carlos Correa, tral. The Cleveland Indi- on the right team could
key, but I think that’s prob- of second-place Arizona Jose Altuve and George ans, who lost to Chicago help close the gap with the
ably why we’re doing so in the loaded NL West. The Springer, they top the ma- in the World Series, have Dodgers and Astros.q