Cal Quantrill has been everything the Rockies hoped he’d be. Tenacious, effective, and unafraid of the beast known as Coors Field.
But don’t expect the 29-year-old right-hander to be a part of the Rockies’ long-term future. However, there is a chance that Quantrill could be moved before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
According to major league sources, the Rockies have received some phone calls about Quantrill but no firm offers yet. That could change in the coming days as teams explore the trade market and realize that Quantrill might be a bargain.
Quantrill, making $6.55 million this season, is under team control for one more season. He faces one more year of salary arbitration before becoming a free agent after the 2025 season.
If the Rockies trade Quantrill, he won’t be caught off guard. He was traded from San Diego to Cleveland in 2020, and then from Cleveland to Colorado last November.
“I’ve been traded twice and I know how it goes,” Quantrill said Wednesday after he made his 12th quality start in Colorado’s 20-8 win over Boston at Coors Field. The fiery Quantrill was involved in a heated war of words with the Red Sox catcher Reese McGuire that sparked a bench-clearing incident.
Quantrill says he loves pitching for the Rockies, but he’s also a realist.
“There is a business side to this,” he said. “The most important thing we can do as players is just go out and continue to play, and be professional.
“Right now, I’m a Colorado Rockie and I want to go out and win every game I pitch for the Colorado Rockies. If that changes, then I’ll change. Until then, I’m a Rockie and I’m happy to be here.”
Quantrill is 7-7 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.338 WHIP. He has a 3.29 ERA in nine starts at Coors Field. He’s made seven quality starts in LoDo. His split-finger fastball has become an effective weapon.
Last season with Cleveland, Quantrill was hampered by a shoulder injury but he’s been healthy pitching for the Rockies and has made a team-high 21 starts.
Quantrill has said he might be interested in a contract extension with the Rockies, but he’s also made it clear he wants to play for a playoff contender.
The Rockies are on pace to lose 100 games for the second straight season. The organization is confident a turnaround will come as early as next season but a lot would have to go right for that to happen in 2025 or even ’26.
While it might make some sense for Colorado to approach Quantrill about a long-term contract, that has not happened yet, and sources say it’s unlikely that it will happen.
Quantrill would likely want at least a three-year deal and Colorado would probably balk at that. Moreover, the club believes several talented pitching prospects will be ready for the majors in the next two years.
Lefty Carson Palmquist, who’s pitching well at Double-A Hartford, has a chance to make his major league debut this season. He’s 5-4 with a 3.28 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP in 16 starts with the Yardgoats. He’s struck out 103 and walked only 31.
Right-hander Chase Dollander, the 2023 first-round draft pick and the organization’s top prospect, was recently promoted to Double-A. He’s viewed as the key to Colorado’s rotation in the near future.
Three of the organization’s top minor-league pitchers, right-handers Gabriel Hughes, Jordy Vargas, and Jackson Cox, underwent Tommy John surgery last July. However, all three pitchers figure heavily in the Rockies’ future.
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Regardless of what happens with Quantrill, the Rockies have been thrilled with his performance this season. Manager Bud Black has been especially impressed with Quantrill’s cerebral approach to pitching.
“He’s very smart on the mound,” Black said. “You can have very in-depth conversations about pitching strategy. During the game, (pitching coach) Darryl (Scott) and I can talk to Cal about swings and approaches. And he comes back with what he sees.
“It’s almost like when a quarterback comes off the field and puts the headsets on and talks to the offensive coordinator or the head coach or the other quarterback. That’s sort of what Cal does. Cal is very communicative in the dugout between innings.”
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