The Chicago White Sox made one of the best trades in the history of their franchise when they sent Jose Quintana to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease, and two additional prospects. The White Sox fleeced them because Jimenez and Cease are both ready to help lead this team to the promised land. Cease is still working on a lot of things but he has the stuff that should see him through. Jimenez is already one of the best power hitters in baseball.
As for Quintana, he was an all-star for the White Sox in his last full season with them. There wasn’t much doubt that he could go to a contender and shine for them as a third starter. Well, that didn’t exactly happen for the Cubs as calling him a third starter would be a stretch. That makes giving up Jimenez and Cease look even worse because that is the kind of haul you give up for an elite pitcher. If the White Sox got those two for Chris Sale, nobody would have complained.
Now, if he came back to the White Sox it would be in a much different role than he left with. There was a point where he was the number two guy on a team that was trying (and failing) to win. If he came back, he would be a number four or five. He wouldn’t be higher on the depth chart than Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel, or even Cease but he would be an okay arm to have ready in a depth role. If he came back and was serviceable, it would really make the trade even better for White Sox fans.