Chris Sale Could Be Moved at Trade Deadline

July 11, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports previously reported that the Chicago White Sox only wanted to hang on to two current players, Paul Konerko and Chris Sale. Now it appears that Sale and the Sox could be parting ways by the trade deadline.

With no true aces on the market this year, almost every MLB team would love to add a pitcher of Sale’s caliber. Ultimately, the lack of top-of-the-rotation starters could lead to more in return for Chicago. A contending team may offer up more than they would like for Sale to make a run at a potential championship.

Teams such as the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox would likely be interested in making a deal for the young ace.

With Yu Darvish finding his way to the Disabled List after suffering a back injury, Texas could really use an ace to hold down the fort. Prior to the injury, Darvish was one of the favorites to win the AL Cy Young, and instead, now the Rangers are looking to add some help at the top of the rotation to Derek Holland.

Boston currently leads the AL East, but sits just six games up on the fourth place New York Yankees, with the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles in between.

The storied franchise will likely look to add a starting pitcher regardless, but if Sale does indeed become available, he would be at the top of their list, along with everyone else’s.

The Red Sox have to top offense in baseball at the moment, but rank in the middle of the pack when it comes to pitching. Currently, they rank 17th in ERA. Adding Chris Sale with the return of Clay Buchholz from the DL would likely put them in position to win the division and make a deep postseason run.

If Sale does become available, many teams are likely to express interest and more teams will become serious potential suitors. In a year with little pitching on the market, teams will be jumping for Sale if the White Sox decided to use him as bait.