The Milwaukee Brewers entered the offseason with a pretty clear message. They retained Brandon Woodruff—a key pillar of their rotation—but were also poised to make a shake-up by trading Freddy Peralta. A major decision, opening up a clear void in the MLB pitching lineup.
The question was: who would fill that void?
The initial expectation was that a prospect arm would be promoted. The Brewers have long believed in their pitching development system, and giving opportunities to young players is a familiar approach. But while all eyes were on the future, another option remained—quiet and unnamed.
Jose Quintana.
Quintana had a fairly consistent season with the Brewers, shooting 131.2 innings with a 3.96 ERA. Not a headline-shattering number, but the kind of production every competitive rotation needs in the final stretch. More importantly, he still proved his inning ability—something increasingly rare in modern MLB. The strange thing is: if Milwaukee really wanted to keep Quintana, they could have done so much earlier. He didn’t demand a long-term contract. The market understood that Quintana was likely only looking for a one-year contract, under $10 million. For the Brewers, that wasn’t a financial hurdle.
And this delay is raising suspicions: has Milwaukee decided to move in a different direction, even if not publicly?
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Angels are starting to emerge as a logical destination. A team severely lacking pitching, with too many question marks at the end of the rotation. Grayson Rodriguez—who was expected to bring stability—missed the entire 2025 season. Alek Manoah remains a gamble for recovery, with an ERA of 5.40 in the last two seasons and just returned after Tommy John.
For the Angels, Quintana doesn’t need to be the team’s carry. He just needs to be a reliable option. A No. 1 pick. A true five-starter, ready to step up if Manoah falters, or flexible enough to switch to a bullpen or even experiment with six-man rotation.
It’s worth noting that Quintana previously played for the Angels, and the 2021 season wasn’t a pleasant one. His 6.75 ERA in 53.1 innings is a reason many fans are still wary. But the last three seasons tell a different story. A 3.79 ERA shows a pitcher who has adapted, refined, and found ways to thrive more effectively as he ages.
Compared to the Brewers—a team balancing prospect development with maintaining consistency—the Angels seem to need Quintana more. They don’t have much time to wait. They need inning now.
And Milwaukee? Their silence could be a sign they’ve chosen to put their faith in the future, accepting short-term risks. Or perhaps they’re missing out on a safe option whose value they’ll only realize later.
Jose Quintana isn’t a name that shakes the market. But sometimes, it’s these small, quiet decisions that have the biggest impact — when the season starts and the rotation enters its truly intense phase.
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