The Pittsburgh Pirates have been in trade conversations for weeks with the Chicago White Sox about left-hander Jose Quintana. Talks remain unresolved because negotiating a deal for the best-available starting pitcher is complicated, and the magnitude is even more magnified for small-market teams.

The Pirates have to decide whether the large cost of prospects for Quintana –- particularly the sort of position prospects the White Sox are asking about, which might include touted outfielder Austin Meadows -- makes sense. In most cases, it’s bad business for a team with a modest payroll to draw heavily from its river of prospects to acquire a veteran.

But there are a couple of mitigating factors for the Pirates to consider: