The Chicago White Sox might be willing to sell some veteran players, but Chris Sale will not be one of them.
Another source says the #WhiteSox were offered a "king's ransom" for Sale in the last 48 hours and responded with a flat "no."
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 21, 2016
To a certain degree, it makes sense that the White Sox would want to hold on to Sale. He’s a star pitcher in the midst of another spectacular season. Sale is a perennial Cy Young contender under contract for 2017 with club options in 2018 ($12.5 million) and 2019 ($15 million).
While holding on to Sale makes sense, trading him would too.
Sale could potentially sway playoff races. Heck, he could help determine who wins the World Series.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs are all buyers with strong farm systems. The Dodgers and Red Sox both have significant holes in their starting rotations.
In the case of Los Angeles, the hole is even greater if Clayton Kershaw is forced to miss extended time. The Dodgers are also said to be in the market for big-name players (more on that here).
It’s not surprising that the White Sox were offered a “king’s ransom” for Sale. If he was known to be available, a bidding war would certainly ensue — a bidding war that would net a huge return.
So, Chicago has to ask itself a simple question. If Sale is retained, can he help the team win?
If the White Sox keep their veteran core intact, maybe. This is a team with a lot of talent. Even if the 2016 season is lost, next year could look vastly different.
Though, if Chicago is unloading other top-end players, contention over the next couple seasons seems unlikely. In this, a rebuilding project might be the best result.
