White Sox trade Sale to Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox won the Chris Sale sweepstakes.
The Chicago White Sox dealt the left-hander to the Red Sox on Tuesday for top prospect Yoan Moncada and No. 2 pitching prospect Michael Kopech, the team announced.
Chicago also acquired minor-league outfielder Luis Basabe (No. 8 prospect) and right-hander Victor Diaz (No. 28 prospect).
Boston will pay the entire $31.2 million remaining on Moncada's original $63-million deal, reports WSCR-AM's Bruce Levine.
On Day 1 of the winter meetings, it was believed the Washington Nationals were the front-runners to acquire Sale, but on Day 2, Boston president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski got the deal done in what seemed like a matter of hours.
PROJECTED RED SOX 2017 ROTATION
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | K | BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Sale | 226 2/3 | 3.34 | 1.037 | 233 | 45 |
| David Price | 230 | 3.99 | 1.204 | 228 | 50 |
| Rick Porcello | 223 | 3.15 | 1.009 | 189 | 32 |
| Eduardo Rodriguez | 107 | 4.71 | 1.299 | 100 | 40 |
| Drew Pomeranz | 170 2/3 | 4.59 | 1.369 | 71 | 24 |
Dombrowski's now traded four of the top five prospects in the Red Sox system since his arrival in August 2015.
Of course, the asking price for Sale was never going to be cheap, and Dombrowski knew it.
The White Sox asked Boston for Andrew Benintendi when the two sides met Monday, reports Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports. Boston likes the young outfielder, though, and the White Sox were also high on Jackie Bradley Jr.
Instead, Boston dealt Sale without giving up Bradley, Benintendi, or Blake Swihart. What's more, Sale will make a mere $12 million in 2017, with only $6.5 million going towards the luxury tax this season. That means if Boston trades right-hander Clay Buchholz, who's making $13.5 million, the Red Sox can stay under the luxury tax in 2017.
Over his career, Sale has been one of the best pitchers in baseball.
The 27-year-old is a five-time All-Star who has finished in the top six in Cy Young voting every year since 2012. He owns a combined 3.00 ERA, striking out 1,244 batters over 1,110 innings.