Cubs exercise 2020 contract option on Jose Quintana

Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty ImagesSome observers had thought that the Cubs might let lefthander Jose Quintana head to free agency after a rough season that saw him post a 4.68 ERA and 1.386 WHIP in 32 appearances (31 starts), and an especially poor performance in September: five starts, 11.09 ERA and 2.250 WHIP in 18\u2154 innings.

Saturday evening, the Cubs announced via press release that they had exercised the 2020 option on Quintana’s contract. The option calls for Q to be paid $11.5 million next season.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that Quintana will break camp with the Cubs next March 26. It’s entirely possible that they’ll trade him. That contract could be attractive to someone…