Could the Boston Red Sox go into full-scale rebuild mode this winter? One day after reports suggested the team was willing to trade All-Star starter David Price comes this piece of shocking information.
According to Joel Sherman of the NY Post, Boston is willing to discuss trading seven-time All-Star Chris Sale.
As Sherman notes, a Price deal seems more likely. That doesn’t make this any less interesting.
Sale, 30, is coming off a sorely disappointing 2019 campaign that saw him put up a career-high 4.40 ERA while losing 11 of his 17 decisions. He also dealt with velocity issues stemming from an injury throughout the season.
Set to earn a combined $90 million over the next three seasons before a potential player opt out, Sale would be an expensive proposition for bidding teams.
However, he was among the most-dominant pitchers in baseball from 2014-18. That span saw Sale post a combined 71-37 record with a 2.85 ERA and 0.99 WHIP while striking out 1,260 batters in less than 1,000 innings.
If Boston can find a way to acquire young options while moving Sale’s contract, we expect the team to fully consider it.