Chicago White Sox left-hander Chris Sale was sent home Saturday amid rampant trade speculation due to an incident between he and the front office.
"Chris Sale has been scratched from tonight's scheduled start and sent home from the ballpark by the White Sox due to a clubhouse incident before the game," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement. "The incident, which was non-physical in nature, currently is under investigation by the club.
"The White Sox will have no additional comment until the investigation is complete."
The incident began with something "silly" that grew into something bigger, a source told Jerry Crasnick of ESPN. It didn't involve any of Sale's teammates.
Sale and White Sox vice president Ken Williams were involved in a confrontation earlier this season after the team stopped allowing Adam LaRoche's son Drake into the locker room. Sale called the decision "B.S." and said Williams told the team a "bald-faced" lie. It is not believed, however, that Saturday's incident involved Williams, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Once thought to be considered untouchable, Sale has seen his name populate trade rumors of late. The Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers have been linked to the 27-year-old, while it was reported that the White Sox rejected a "king's ransom" earlier this week for Sale.
The current front-runner for the AL Cy Young, Sale is 14-3 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 19 starts this season. He's a five-time All-Star and has finished in the top five in Cy Young voting in each of the last three years.
Sale is owed $12 million next season, and has a $12.5-million team option in 2018 and a $13.5-million team option in 2019.
