The market was low for him because he was mediocre and owed a ton of money.

Credit to the Astros for reviving his career. The Astros proved they are an elite development org at least during that time period.

Most orgs are probably not getting out of Verlander what the Astros got and there’s a huge reason why he went cheaply.

As to Quintana I think it’s dumb to relitigate it again but that trade was totally worth it. Q pitched the Cubs into the playoffs in 2017. The Cubs have literally won more games in the playoffs with Q than the Sox did with Eloy and Cease.

The Cubs won that trade. Eloy was mediocre and Cease was up and down and the Sox moved him for a mediocre return.

I agree that big market teams should spend and the Cubs should go out and get the best talent but that doesn’t mean that smart trades aren’t smart trades.