The Chicago White Sox have traded ace starting pitcher Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday and it essentially begins the White Sox rebuild project. Sale is going to Boston for four prospects including the Red Sox top young asset in third baseman Yoan Moncada.
For the Red Sox, they solidify what might possibly be the best rotation in the American League if not the entire MLB. After a two year stint at the bottom of the AL East they won the division in 2016 and returned to the playoffs before getting eliminated in the ALDS. Sale now joins fellow top flight pitchers David Price, Rick Porcello and Clay Buchholz.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported the Sale trade including the prospects Chicago got in return.
BREAKING: Sale to #RedSox. Moncada, Kopech and two other prospects to #WhiteSox.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 6, 2016
Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports added the names of the other two unnamed prospects.
The #WhiteSox will also acquire Basabe and V. Diaz from #RedSox
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 6, 2016
The 27-year-old Sale has one more guaranteed year on his deal at $12 million, with club options for 2018 and 2019 that total $26 million. Chris finished 17-10 with a 3.34 ERA across 32 starts last season, which included 226 2/3 innings and 233 strikeouts on a White Sox team that posted a 78-84 record. In 2015 he led the MLB in K’s. Sale has finished in the top six of AL Cy Young Award voting in each of the last five seasons while also being selected as an MLB All-Star in that same time frame.
Following the trade, many around the MLB world reacted to the deal. One of the most interesting reactions was from newly retired Red Sox slugger David Ortiz.
WOW?????
— Chris Archer (@ChrisArcher22) December 6, 2016
OMG ???…time to SALE-A-BRATE!!!!!
— Jk (@JosephKellyJr) December 6, 2016
There go my off days ?… https://t.co/kzUksC3brc
— Jason Kipnis (@TheJK_Kid) December 6, 2016
@CY24_7 you're still my favorite Chris on the team
— Brock Holt (@BrockStar4Lyf) December 6, 2016
Wow sale to the @RedSox ? #wintermeetings gotta love it
— Archie Bradley (@ArchieBradley7) December 6, 2016
? ?????? https://t.co/2Gstn58jrJ
— Jose Ramirez (@MrLapara) December 6, 2016
