According to a credible major league source, the Boston Red Sox are making a “strong push” to acquire left-handed pitcher Chris Sale in a trade from the Chicago White Sox. The two clubs have engaged in multiple back-and-forth conversations regarding a trade that would send Sale to Boston.
The Red Sox have many holes to fill on their team after a dismal 2014 campaign and topping the list is the starting rotation. There are several big name pitchers on the market that the Red Sox have pursued including adding back Jon Lester.
Lester is expected to make his decision real soon, and the odds don’t look good for the Red Sox bringing him back. That leaves Boston in search of an Ace to lead their rotation.
The source added that Boston had looked into a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies for lefty Cole Hamels, but the asking price was “ridiculous”. Not to mention, Philadelphia wants the team that trades for him to pick up the duration of his contract in its entirety (4-years, roughly $90 million remaining). Hamels also has a limited no-trade clause that includes Boston and would only accept if Boston agreed to pick up his option for 2019.
Back to Sale, the 25-year-old lefty was a first round pick in 2010 and is signed through 2017 (5-year, $32 million) that includes team options for ’18 and ’19. The belief is that upon the trade getting completed, Chris Sale would be open to signing a long-term extension with the Red Sox for a higher dollar figure.
In three full seasons with Chicago as a starting pitcher, Sale has posted a combined 40-24 record with a 3.02 ERA and 626 strikeouts. Last season, Chris Sale finished 3rd in the Cy Young voting for the American League with a 12-4 record, 217 punch outs and a staggering 2.17 earned run average. He has a unique pitching style that baffles opposing hitters regularly.
So if Chris Sale is so young, talented and has a team-friendly contract, why are the White Sox looking to trade him?
Chicago organizationally has many holes on their team to fill, and they know that their greatest asset (Chris Sale) would bring the most back. Boston has one of the deepest farm systems in all the majors and are looking for a starting pitcher right now to lead their rotation.
The White Sox also appear to be the “front-runner” to acquire Oakland Athletics Starter Jeff Samardzija. He who would likely lead their rotation, making moving Sale more plausible.
In the discussed deal, the prospects the Red Sox would send to Chicago would likely include: Catcher Blake Swihart (#1 prospect in Red Sox organization according to Baseball America), two to three of Boston’s top pitching prospects. The rumored pitching prospects have been Henry Owens (#2 prospect in organization according to Baseball America), Matt Barnes, Anthony Ranaudo, Brian Johnson, Eduardo Rodriguez, Allen Webster, Rubby De La Rosa and so on. White Sox have also expressed interest in 3B Garin Cecchini and SS Deven Marrero.
The writing is definitely on the wall and this deal could come together rather quickly depending on Boston’s ability to part with some of the organizations top prospects. Jon Lester has not made his official decision yet, but on the off chance he chooses to re-opt with Boston, the Red Sox could still pull of a trade for Chris Sale.
Boston still plans to add a number two starter if they pull of the Sale trade, and that could come with a signing of James Shields for example or they can trade OF Yoenis Cespedes for a veteran starter. San Diego, Cincinnati and Detroit have all been teams with starting pitching depth that have had discussions with Boston on the Cuban slugger.
The Red Sox are looking for a quick rebound and they have the money and the farm system to do so. If they head into next season with Chris Sale at the front of their rotation, that puts every other team in Major League Baseball on notice.
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