White Sox, Ventura silent after Sale incident

The Chicago White Sox don't want to talk about Chris Sale right now.

Manager Robin Ventura acknowledged Sale was sent home by the team and scratched from Saturday's start after an off-field incident, but he refused to talk about what allegedly happened, or when his ace might return to the mound.

"I'll talk about the game, but any of that stuff, we'll wait on that," Ventura told reporters after Saturday's game was suspended due to rain with the White Sox and Tigers tied 3-3. "I'm not going to discuss what went on in there. But (it's) unfortunate he didn't start tonight. Proud of the guys who filled in."

On Sunday morning, Ventura said Sale won't be with the team at U.S. Cellular Field for Sunday's series finale against Detroit and the completion of Saturday's suspended affair. The left-hander is, however, still listed as the team's probable starter for Thursday's game against the crosstown Cubs, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.

White Sox players also refused to weigh in on the situation after the suspended game; pitcher Matt Albers, who took Saturday's start in place of Sale, said that "in our clubhouse, we're going to keep it in-house."

Sale was sent home for what the team called a "non-physical" incident, general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement before Saturday's game. It was later reported that Sale was unhappy about having to wear the team's throwback uniforms, and cut them up in protest.

Saturday's incident has only served to intensify trade rumors surrounding the 27-year-old, who's been one of the lone bright spots this season for an inconsistent White Sox team. Even as they've moved toward becoming sellers, the White Sox have been steadfastly refusing to trade their ace; one report earlier this week suggested the team said no to an offer described as a "king's ransom" from an unknown team.

Earlier Saturday, the Boston Red Sox were reported to have great interest in both Sale and Quintana.