White Sox, Cubs cold war is over with Jose Quintana trade

The Chicago Cubs and White Sox, two bitter rivals who have never cared for one another in the city they share, relishes in one another’s demise, suddenly became best of friends.

The White Sox stepped up Wednesday and made it possible for the Cubs to win back-to-back World Series titles, and the Cubs accelerated the White Sox’s rebuilding efforts to make them king of the city in a few years.

Strange times.

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Cubs acquire Jose Quintana from White Sox in blockbuster 5-player trade

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The Cubs, baseball’s biggest underachievers the first half, 43-45, acquired ace Jose Quintana from the White Sox for four prospects that including prized outfielder Eloy Jimenez and pitcher Dylan Cease. They also received infielders Matt Rose and Bryant Flete.

It was the first trade between the two clubs since November, 2006, when the Cubs acquired Neal Cotts from the White Sox for David Aardsma and Carlos Vasquez.

It was their biggest deal involving an All-Star since 1992 when the White Sox traded Sammy Sosa and Ken Patterson to the Cubs for George Bell.

You see, at this juncture in the future of the franchises, it made no sense to let rivalries or emotions stop them from making the best trade for both teams, with White Sox GM Rick Hahn calling it “laughable’’ for folks to believe it would be a deterrent.

“If we really, felt motivated to take an inferior baseball deal, to not put this organization in the best possible spot to win multiple championships because of emotion,’’ Hahn said, “then we would be the wrong people running the club.’’

The White Sox are trying to rebuild, and field a championship team by 2019.

The Cubs are trying to win right now, going 43-45 with a starting staff that yielded a 4.66 ERA, ranking 26th in WAR.

The Cubs, who needed a jolt from their first-half doldrums, certainly had to do something. Cubs president Theo Epstein, who could barely stand to watch his team’s performance the first half, was on the warpath to find a young, controllable pitcher. He wanted someone to not only help them down this year’s pennant stretch, but also the next few seasons.

They recently tried to pry All-Star Michael Fulmer away from the Detroit Tigers, but the Tigers had no interest, unless they Cubs were willing to trade infielders Javy Baez and Ian Happ.

Once that trade was dead on arrival, the Cubs and White Sox became engaged in talks on Sunday, with a deal done within 48 hours.

This could turn out to be the sexiest trade anyone makes at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, leaving both teams ecstatic.

The Cubs struck gold with Quintana, who’s under contract through 2020, earning just $8.4 million in 2018, with $10.5 million options in 2019 and 2020. It’s a steal for a pitcher who has pitched at least 200 innings in three of the last four seasons, and has gone 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in his last seven starts.

He’s not only needed now, but for the future, with Jake Arrieta and John Lackey expected to depart as free agents.

“Frankly, it’s incredibly difficult to trade a player like Quintana,’’ White Sox GM Rick Hahn says, “more so the type of person he is, and what he means to the organization.

“The Cubs are not only getting a great pitcher, but a tremendous clubhouse presence and a great person. It’s not easy to let somebody like that walk out the door.’’

This trade enables the Cubs to keep their young nucleus intact by trading only prospects, and adds to the White Sox’s collection, giving them nine of the top 100 prospects in baseball, according to MLB.com. Jimenez, ranked as the eighth-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com, and Cease was ranked 63rd.

“We feel this package of prospects not only was far and away the best offer and opportunity talked with any club,’’ Hahn says, “but one that allows us to continue to add to the prospect base that we have accumulated. We are closer to achieving our long term goals.’’

The White Sox, Hahn said, simply were not going to make any trade with the Cubs unless it started with Jimenez and Cease.

“We view (Jimenez) as one of the most exciting prospects in the game,’’ Hahn said. “It’s not every day you get to acquire a potential talent like this. And Dylan Cease has got the potential to be a front-end starter with tremendous makeup.’’

The trade came together quickly between the Cubs, with the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros all involved. The White Sox thought they were on the verge of a deal last week, in fact, and nearly pulled Quintana from his start. Yet, when they couldn’t finish it off, Hahn kept Quintana in the rotation, and went back to the phones.

He called Epstein on Sunday morning, telling him they were close to a deal with another team, and seeing if he had interest. The deal would have to include Jimenez and Cease. Epstein called back the next morning, catching Hahn at the All-Star FanFest with his son, and leaving Hahn hiding behind a display to avoid anyone hearing their trade talks.

The deal was done Tuesday, with the medical records being exchanged throughout the day, and announced Wednesday.

“There was strong interest from clubs right through the medicals,’’ Hahn said. “The call to Jose this morning was one of the most difficult I ever made. There was no part I enjoyed.’’

Just like that, the Cubs let the baseball world know they are here to stay.

The White Sox let everyone know they’re coming.

And the two franchises are proud to announce the cold war is over.

The wall has crumbled down.

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Gallery: 2017 MLB trade deadline tracker