During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z: An alphabetical player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, with the final week focusing on players added after the season ended.

Player: Jose Quintana

Position: Pitcher

Throws: Left

Bats: Right

Age: 32

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 220 pounds

2021 MLB statistics: Quintana was 0-3 with a 6.43 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in 63 innings over 29 appearances, including 10 starts for the Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants.

Contract: Signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Pirates.

Acquired: Signed as a free agent on Nov. 29.

This past season: Quintana wanted to put a disastrous 2020 behind him after the pandemic-shortened season was delayed by a freak accident that required surgery on his left thumb and a shoulder injury.

While washing dishes the day before he was to fly to training camp with the Chicago Cubs, a wine glass broke in Quintana’s left hand. The cut was so severe that he needed surgery to repair nerve damage and five stitches to close the wound.

The Angels signed Quintana to a one-year, $8 million contract that reunited him with former Cubs manager Joe Maddon, who envisioned the lefty as an innings-eater after pitching 200-plus innings four times and starting 31 games or more seven times. He also has seven seasons with at least 150 strikeouts.

Last night, José Quintana became the second pitcher in #Cubs history to strike out 14 batters while pitching six innings or fewer, joining Kerry Wood (2001).

His career-high 14 Ks tied Jon Lester (2015) for the most by a Cubs LHP in any game over the last century. pic.twitter.com/mJD1dfYEgj

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 14, 2019

Instead, Quintana was bothered by shoulder inflammation once again. He pitched five innings only twice in his 10 starts, and his 1.73 WHIP was fifth worst among major leaguers who pitched at least 60 innings.

“Last season was really hard for me, especially at the beginning, to be sharp as a starter,” Quintana said. “I feel at the beginning of the season like I needed to get that rhythm. Usually, in all my years I’ve pitched more than 150 innings. Last year I made just 10 (starts).”

Quintana’s best start came April 21 against the Texas Rangers, when he allowed one run on two hits with four walks and eight strikeouts on 95 pitches. It symbolic of his season, as Quintana recorded career highs in both strikeouts (12.1) and walks (5.0) per nine innings.

He got hit hard — his 45.5% rate ranked in the 6th percentile — and gave up 12 home runs in 63 innings for the season.

In late May, Quintana went on the 10-day injured list with shoulder inflammation. When he returned to the Angels, they moved him to the bullpen. Quintana returned to the rotation for one more start, giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits in 1 1/3 innings against the Detroit Tigers on Aug. 19. Soon after, he was waived.

The Giants claimed Quintana off waivers, hoping he would bolster their bullpen. In five appearances for San Francisco, Quintana had a 4.66 ERA and 1.45 WHIP, giving up three home runs in 9 2/3 innings. The Giants designated Quintana for assignment on Sept. 30.

“It was really hard, especially when you feel you fixed it,” Quintana said. “That’s really frustrating, especially when you have the last year when you don’t pitch too much and this year, pitching as a starter, really slow start and when you start to feel better and throw the ball better, you get hurt.”

Quintana was so emphatic about wanting to be a starter again that he pitched for the Cibaenas Aguilas in the Dominican Republic Winter League, where he posted a 3.00 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over two starts, giving up three runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking three in nine innings.

“Everything is different than as a reliever,” Quintana said. “I’m a starting pitcher. I want to be back and really sharp. My offseason workouts are going to be all about my delivery, hitting my strengths like I did in the past and working hard to be a really good starting pitcher like I was the past few years.”

When Pirates general manager Ben Cherington signed Quintana, he noted his veteran presence and the balance he brings as a lefty to the starting rotation, especially after Steven Brault was non-tendered.

“Only one year removed from an impressive run of durability and success, Jose demonstrated a clear desire and commitment to improve while pitching in winter ball,” Cherington said. “He is a strong competitor on the mound who also brings with him a terrific reputation as a teammate.”

The future: Quintana brings an 83-80 record and 3.84 ERA in 257 career starts to the Pirates, who are desperate for a veteran presence on a young pitching staff.

Quintana was an All-Star for the White Sox in 2016, when he went 13-12 with a 3.20 ERA and 181 strikeouts in a career-high 208 innings. It was the first of three 13-win seasons in Chicago, including two after being traded crosstown to the Cubs.

After two injury riddled seasons, Quintana is focusing on his mechanics. Upon signing with the Angels, Maddon credited him with having a “repeatable, compact delivery with a nice arm stroke.”

Although Quintana throws his four-seamer for 40.8% of his pitches, he doesn’t overpower hitters with his fastball or sinker — both clock in around 91.5 mph. Instead, he uses deception and movement by mixing in a curveball and changeup another 41.4% of the time.

Quintana is so intent on showing that he still has the stuff to be a starter that he didn’t consider any offers that involved moving to the bullpen. The Pirates gave him the best — and possibly last — chance to start.

“I am a starter, a starting pitcher,” Quintana said. “I want to prove I am a starting pitcher and I feel better in that spot. This offseason and next season is going to be really important for me to show that. That’s the reason we are here.”

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