Excited By the Energy of His New Team and the Ever-Changing Challenge of the Game, Jose Quintana Joins the Brewers

On Wednesday, the Milwaukee Brewers officially signed left-handed starter Jose Quintana to a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2026. To make room on the 40-man roster, fellow lefty DL Hall was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

Quintana, 36, said the unexpectedly long process of free agency ended in a relatively easy decision, because he's excited by the energy and winning style of the team he's joining.

"I’m so excited to be part of this group. A lot of younger guys, and right away I feel that energy," Quintana told reporters inside the Brewers' clubhouse at American Family Fields of Phoenix. "Now, I understand in these couple days here, why they win—how they win. It’s a new journey for me, and I’m excited for the next chapter of my career. I can’t wait to be a Brewer."

The 13-year veteran said he had other options this offseason, but that he chose the Brewers because he values the way they go about their business. Few pitchers throughout the league are more familiar to Brewers fans, and few who haven't already pitched for them are as familiar with the team as Quintana is, after years of pitching in the NL Central and often lining up to face the Crew.

"I can see how electric they are, how hungry they show up and play the game," he said. "That was the most impressive thing; that made my decision really easy."

A widely respected competitor with a reputation for gutting out quality outings, Quintana is a perfect fit, not just for the team's needs but for its ethos. While waiting to find a home in free agency, he was assiduously preparing on his own (as best one can), so he doesn't foresee being far behind his teammates or unable to contribute right away when the season begins on Mar. 27.

"I’ve been doing my own spring training. I have two live BPs, and I’m probably a week behind, maybe two sessions," Quintana said. "But we have plenty of time. Tomorrow, I have a side, so it’s time to work, but I’ve been doing my things. This is a little different, needing to do it on your own."

He did acknowledge that getting into games and facing hitters in competition will be different even than working in live BP settings, but he's stretched out to about 40 pitches already and believes he can be prepared for full starts before the season begins in earnest. Given the veterans already slotted into the Milwaukee rotation, it's unlikely that Quintana would be needed any sooner than Mar. 31, and perhaps not until the early days of April. That, indeed, leaves him plenty of time.

In his prime, Quintana touched 95 miles per hour with some regularity and averaged nearly 93 mph on his fastball. Now, he's much more of a true finesse pitcher, needing all four of his pitches and changing some of his angles and pitch usage patterns to keep hitters guessing.

He views that as part of the fun of the game he's continuing to play so well, into the latter half of his 30s.

"I really enjoy my job. I really like to see players that stay hungry in the game," he said. "The game has changed a lot at this point, but to see guys that want to play and show the best they have is exciting. You want to be part of a group like that.

It sounds as though the Brewers proactively talked to Quintana about ways they think they can help him continue to make the most of his stuff, and he expressed enthusiasm about the task ahead.

"Being a while around the league, I make my adjustments every time, and I keep learning. I like to, over time, pay attention to the game, try to take advantage of whatever I see, and learn from the pitching coach: what they’ve got, how I can be better. So that’s a good thing: to keep playing."

Meanwhile, the team is giddily enfolding Quintana into its fabric. Speaking before the deal became official Wednesday, manager Pat Murphy spoke in hypotheticals, but he was effusive.

"A veteran that's like super-prepared, super-conscientious?" the skipper asked, rhetorically and with tongue firmly planted in cheek. "Those are the best kind to sign. I hope we sign one like that."

Freddy Peralta and other teammates were equally exuberant.

"The rotation looks way better—stronger," Peralta said, after throwing three scoreless innings in his latest Cactus League start against the White Sox. "We have more depth, now, and a lot of choices, too. There's going to be some movement we have to make, and we can't control that, but [we're] happy to have him here, and he's going to bring a lot of good stuff for us. I know that."

Quintana adds to a bevy of Latin pitchers on the Brewers' staff, including not just Peralta, but Nestor Cortes, Abner Uribe, Joel Payamps, and Elvis Peguero, plus several more candidates for jobs at the edge of the roster. During his post-appearance scrum with reporters, Peralta got a question about his feelings about the Latin flavor of the pitching staff from an especially intrepid reporter—none other than Uribe.

"It's great," Peralta said. "I remember back in 2019, 2020, I didn't have a lot of Latin pitchers with me here. And I was asking, back then, 'Hey, sign somebody, I want to be around somebody; I want some Latin players here. And look now: there's a lot—too many, now!"

He was kidding, smiling wide. Quintana's addition strengthens the team's rotation, and it also seems to be very good for their collective vibe.