Looking Back: Cease, Three Former South Bend Cubs Part of Blockbuster Trade

SOUTH BEND, IN - In the first big trade of the 2017 season, the Chicago White Sox sent José Quintana to the Chicago Cubs in return for Eloy Jiménez (Cubs No. 1 Prospect/MLB No. 8), Dylan Cease (Cubs No. 2/MLB No. 66), Matt Rose, and Bryant Flete.

Speculation about a looming trade increased significantly when Jimenez was not in the starting lineup for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Advanced-A affiliate) on July 12 and Cease was also scratched from his start on the mound for the second consecutive time in two weeks.
In 13 games started for South Bend in 2017, Cease went 1-2 with a 2.79 ERA. His 95+ mph fastball followed by his mid-70's curve has proved effective this season helping him to average 8.22 strikeouts per nine innings (1.44 per inning) and 74-26 strikeout to walk ratio.
Originally projected to be a first-round draft pick out of Milton High School (GA), Cease fell to the sixth round when he was taken by the Chicago Cubs as a gamble due to Tommy John surgery his senior year. Since then he has shown tremendous upside putting together a career 2.54 ERA in 33 games started between Mesa, Eugene, and South Bend.
WHAT THE CUBS GET: Quintana, the White Sox No. 1 pitcher this year, has pitched in the big leagues since 2012. Since then, he has compiled a 50-54 career-record and a 3.51 ERA. While his stats may not seem particularly impressive, the Columbian-native will help the Cubs' pitching staff eat up more innings as he has tallied 200+ innings pitched in each of the last four seasons.
In the first half of the 2017 season, Quintana is 4-8 with a 4.49 ERA in 18 starts for the White Sox whose 38-49 record was the worst in the American League before the All-Star break.
This season, Quintana is also striking out more hitters than in previous years. Prior to the trade, he averaged 9.40 strikeouts per nine innings (1.40 more than his season best in 2014).
WHAT THE WHITE SOX GET: The biggest piece sent to the South Side is Eloy Jiménez who was named the Chicago Cubs 2016 Prospect of the Year, two-time MLB Futures Game All-Star, 2016 Midwest League Prospect of the Year, 2016 Midwest League MVP, and 2016 Midwest League All-Star.
Last season Jimenez hit .329 with 14 home runs, 40 doubles, and a .901 OPS. In 2016, he finished in the top-five in the Midwest League in doubles (40), RBI (81), slugging percentage (.532), total bases (230), and extra-base hits (57).
When Ian Happ was called up to the Chicago Cubs earlier this year, Dylan Cease became the Cubs' No. 2 prospect overall.
After a rough first start on Opening Day at Four Winds Field, Cease impressed through his next five starts to keep his season ERA sub 2.00 while going 1-1 and picking up 45 of his 74 strikeouts.
The Sox also received Matt Rose, a first/third baseman who hit .236 with 17 home runs for South Bend in 2016. Before the trade the Florida-native was hitting .227 with 14 home runs for Advanced-A Myrtle Beach. The Chicago Cubs selected him in the 11th round of the 2015 draft.
Bryant Flete, a middle-infielder, also joins Rose with the White Sox as the fourth player involved in the trade. In 2016, Flete hit .246 with 49 RBI while splitting time between South Bend and Myrtle Beach. Before the trade, he was hitting .305 with 37 RBI and six homers for Myrtle Beach. He was signed by the Chicago Cubs as a non-drafted free agent in 2012.
SOUTH BEND A PROSPECT HOT-SPOT: In their first three years as an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, South Bend has played a direct role in the devlopement of four Cubs top-prospects. In 2015, South Bend's roster included then No. 1 overall prospect, Gleyber Torres (traded to the Yankees for Aroldis Chapman) and the North Side's most recent call up, Ian Happ (on current Chicago Cubs roster).
In their second year associated with the Cubs, South Bend hosted Eloy Jimenez (traded to the White Sox for Quintana) who's standout season earned him a spot in the Top 10 prospects among all 30 Major League organizations.
This season South Bend became the home of Dylan Cease who was the