The Latest Breaking News from Jose Quintana

SAN DIEGO — The Mets promised to remain active in the starting pitching market and they made good on their promise Wednesday morning, agreeing with veteran left-hander Jose Quintana on a two-year, $26 million contract, pending a physical.

The winter meetings reached a new level of activity on Day 3. Here’s what could be next.

The last time Bryce Harper faced the Cardinals in the playoffs, he couldn’t legally drink Champagne.

MILWAUKEE — With the NL Central crown in their pocket and time to kill on their hands, the Cardinals cannot do anything to change their postseason position in the coming days, but they had one more last chance to shape who they might face.

With the bravado and timing that the Cardinals have come to expect from one of the best to ever play the game, Albert Pujols made history – and sparked the present.

ST. LOUIS — Jose Quintana extended his Cardinals record to nine games at the start of his career with them in which he allowed two earned runs or fewer. But Saturday night's game against Cincinnati was his best.

CINCINNATI — When the Pirates acquired Johan Oviedo as part of the Jose Quintana-Chris Stratton trade, there was an acknowledged need to be patient. General manager Ben Cherington and manager Derek Shelton also told anyone who asked about the gigantic right-hander that they viewed him as a capable major league…

PITTSBURGH — Roansy Contreras has a long way to go and a lot of years to succeed before he turns in anything approaching Jose Quintana’s career.

ST. LOUIS — Left-hander Jose Quintana, one of two starting pitchers acquired by the Cardinals at the early August trading deadline, worked a fifth consecutive start of five innings or fewer on Tuesday night. But this five-inning stint was highly effective as he struck out five, walked no one and…