The Boston Red Sox and ace pitcher Chris Sale have already begun discussing a potential contract extension ahead of his impending free agency next year.
Red Sox chairman Tom Werner was on the “Mut & Callahan” show Monday morning when he confirmed the two sides have had conversations about this topic, and that the same cannot be said for J.D. Martinez.
Tom Werner tells @MutCallahan the Red Sox have had contract extension talks with Chris Sale, but not J.D. Martinez pic.twitter.com/bPDoXkIflN
— WEEI (@WEEI) February 18, 2019
Werner also said, “In a perfect world, we’d love to have him back.”
Sale is signed through the 2019 season. He’s going to make $15 million this season before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2020, barring an extension.
At the age of 29, Sale is still in the prime of his career and is clearly one of the best starting pitchers in MLB. Last year he went 12-4 in 27 starts, posting a 2.11 ERA and 0.86 WHIP with 237 strikeouts and just 34 walks.