The Chicago Cubs won the 2017 trade, acquiring ace starter José Quintana from the White Sox in exchange for top prospects Eloy Jiménez and Dylan Cease (plus minor leaguers), as Cease became a Cy Young candidate for the Sox, but Jiménez became an All-Star for the Cubs, while Quintana provided key pitching for the Cubs' 2016 World Series defense, ultimately making it a lopsided win for Chicago.

Who Went Where:

To Cubs: Pitcher José Quintana.
To White Sox: Outfielder Eloy Jiménez, Pitcher Dylan Cease, & infielders Matt Rose & Bryant Flete.

Why the Cubs "Won":

José Quintana's Impact: He provided crucial innings and stability to the Cubs' rotation as they defended their World Series title, even making the All-Star team in 2018.
Eloy Jiménez's Success: Jiménez developed into a strong hitter and All-Star outfielder for the Cubs, showcasing his potential as a middle-of-the-order bat.
Dylan Cease's Later Star Turn: While initially a prospect, Cease blossomed into an elite pitcher for the White Sox, finishing second in Cy Young voting in 2022, but the Cubs got years of production from Quintana and Jiménez before Cease's peak, giving them the edge in overall value.

In Summary:

The Cubs got immediate ace help and a future star (Jiménez), while the White Sox got two future stars (Cease and Jiménez) but gave up Quintana who helped the Cubs immediately, making it a strong win for the North Siders, as argued by CBS Sports.