Phillies Rumor: Club Connected to White Sox Ace Jose Quintana

White Sox ace Jose Quintana is being connected to the Phillies

As pitchers and catchers prepare to report for spring training the rumor mill continues to churn. With the Phillies having an incalculable amount of prospects, the thought of them making a major move has some substance.

While making a trade for a star may be exciting, the Phillies and general manager Matt Klentak are in no position to make a drastic move.

Nick Cafardo, a notorious instigator when it comes to trade rumors, somehow drew a connection between the Phillies and White Sox ace Jose Quintana this week for the Boston Globe.

White Sox GM Rick Hahn has held his ground on what he needs in return for Quintana in a deal. Hahn is under no pressure to trade the All-Star now and could hold on to him until the trade deadline, when teams feel more urgency to make a deal. But Hahn will move Quintana sooner if he gets a package similar to what he got for Chris Sale. Prospect-rich organizations such as the Astros, Braves, Dodgers, Rangers, Phillies, Yankees, and Brewers are possible destinations.

Were Ruben Amaro Jr. still running the show, a trade such as this could make sense. But now that we’re in the real world of rebuilding, the notion that the Phillies could trade for one of the games best pitchers is more than a pipe dream.

Cafardo simply named prospect-rich organizations in his attempt to make a broad link for the White Sox. Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York, and Milwaukee are each in a deep rebuild mode, which is the reason they have a large number of major league prospects.

Philadelphia especially has been cleaning out their stock of major league starters. Making a move for Quintana would ultimately waste the work and outcome of the Cole Hamels and Ken Giles trades.

So while on paper the Phillies have the ability to make a move, don’t count them in on acquiring a major talent, at least just yet.