There Are Tangible reasons Why Jose Quintana, Not Nestor Cortes, Should Be Traded At The Deadline

[Jake McKibbin]

Image courtesy of © Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Jose Quintana has been reliable on the surface for the Milwaukee Brewers, posting a solid 3.50 ERA, which, from the fifth member of a rotation, is a remarkably impressive number. That being said, the eye test and his underlying metrics are suggesting a significant regression, and it's one the Brewers can ill afford in the divisional race of the NL Central.

Quintana has always been a player outperforming his peripherals, mainly because those peripherals are predicated on a pitcher's controllables - strikeouts and walks. Quintana doesn't target swing and miss often, and he's content with walking hitters. His entire game, due to his low grading in "stuff," is predicated upon getting hitters to chase and make weak contact when they do. He knows he can get ground balls to eliminate runners and has a variety of pitches that move just enough to avoid barrels.

The problem we're seeing in 2025 is that, although Quintana's performance by runs allowed has been good, his peripheral numbers are worse than ever:

For someone whose success is about limiting damage and engendering chase, he's showing the lowest chase rates of the 2020s this season. Hitters are forcing him into the strike zone more often, and with stuff grades like those below from TJStats, that just won't play for the veteran hurler:

Quintana has made a career out of teasing hitters away from their comfort zone, garnering uncomfortable swings and letting his defense work behind him. With his stuff no longer playing well enough for him to get enticing chase swings, Quintana is getting hit harder, striking out less, and being barrelled up considerably more often than at any other point since 2022.

There's also the rationale that, thanks to his clearer injury history and a track record in 2025 (unlike Cortes), Quintana may bring back additional value at the deadline. That being said, the Brewers should be focused on the performance over the return at this juncture.

Is Nestor Cortes A Better Pitcher?
In short, yes. While Quintana and Cortes can get grouped as back-end starting pitchers, both of whom use deception and guile to flummox hitters, there is a noticeable improvement in raw stuff and upper-level performance from Nasty Nestor. You merely have to look at this stretch from 2021-22:

For Triple A Nashville Sounds this season during his rehab starts, Cortes has rifled through hitters with aplomb, possessing above average swing and miss on his four seamer and cutter (fitting well with the Brewers love of multiple fastballs) and a saucy sweeper to boot. He has swing and miss that Quintana just doesn't while possessing a similar level of command and deception to elevate his performance.

He's not a ground ball pitcher, but then neither has Quintana showcased that either in 2025. He doesn't walk hitters, and lives around the edges of the strike zone to miss barrels. All in all, Nestor Cortes is undeniably a better pitcher when healthy than Jose Quintana. he's more likely to produce down the stretch for the Brewers. That has to be the focal point for this decision, where every marginal edge is an advantage.

What do you think fanatics? Who would you rather see traded at the deadline? Or should neither player be moved? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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[Rick Daltons Flamethrower]

I couldn't agree more with your article Jake. He has been very effective fir us but is a ticking time bomb as an aging lefty. As the year goes on his age may show itself more. Flip him for a 8th inning set up pitcher or a 3rdbase/SS with some zip.

[Brian]

Cortes is a ticking time bomb for sure. He will have an ERA of 5.00 or higher if he comes back to the Brewers which is worse than Quintana.  But personally I think there both probably washed up making neither of them playoff competitive anymore. During the season I would use them both or trade them. But if we trade Cortes back to the Yankees we better get compensated well for rehabbing him all season. Yankees tick me off for even asking because they know we do a better job with our pitchers than they do. 

[eklinka]

honestly there might be reason to trade both with Gasser coming back soon, but moving Quintana to the bullpen might be a good idea. Keeping a veteran arm could be useful going into the playoffs.