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New York Yankees: Will They Land Chris Sale?

By Ron Juckett

Jul 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; (Editors note: Caption correction) Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale delivers a pitch during the first inning of the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; (Editors note: Caption correction) Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale delivers a pitch during the first inning of the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the trade deadline approaches, the New York Yankees are in the hunt for Chicago White Sox lefty Chris Sale. Could they land their ace?

The New York Yankees are interested in beleaguered Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale. Any team with a playoff shot is interested in Sale.

According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees want to know what it would take to send the 14-4 lefty to the Bronx. For those of you who might have written of the Yanks as sellers after their trade of Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs, trading for Sale does not turn them into buyers. (Yes, that reads as a contradiction.)

With three years for $39 million left on his team-friendly contract, Sale to the Yankees is smart for New York. The White Sox have two team options on their end of his deal keeping him under team control through the end of 2019 if needed. If the Yankees tried to sign him on the open market, they would be lucky to get one year and change for the same price at three. For a team that never openly rebuilds, landing Sale at his current price is a rebuilding move.

At 52-49, the Yankees are six games out of first in the American League East behind the Baltimore Orioles and 3.5 games out of the second AL Wild Card. Sale helps them now and his contract helps them next year.

Yet, everyone wants Sale. The Texas Rangers have pushed the hardest as they try to hold off the Houston Astros in the AL West. The Orioles and Boston Red Sox would love his services and hope to have a strong enough package of prospects to cash in. Along with Carlos Quintana and James Shields, who has found his groove again, the ChiSox can restock the farm and build for a better tomorrow.

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That is, if they choose too.

At 50-52, the White Sox have stabilized after a horrible stretch this summer. They sit six back for the second Wild Card with a starting rotation that can win games. If they think that is not an impossible number to make up, why sell?

Well, it is safe to say Sale’s relationship with the front office is not good. When former teammate Adam LaRoche retired after the Sox told him his kid cannot be in the clubhouse every day, it was Sale who confronted Executive Vice President Kenny Williams at a team meeting. When forced to wear a 1976 throwback uniform last Saturday before pitching against the Detroit Tigers, Sale cut his up. The love between management and player rivals what you would see watching Jerry Springer. Despite such a great deal for Chicago, removing him and the distractions might be in their best interest.

Because the money is one-sided, the Yankees can afford to take that deal and match him with Masahiro Tanaka at their front of the rotation. Starting pitching is not strong in the AL East and, if Sale pitches at his current level, the Bombers are not wrong to think they can still get in the playoffs. Even as they dangle Ivan Nova as trade bait.

Next: Padres Send Andrew Cashner to Marlins

Whatever happens over the next few days will make for interesting reading come fall.

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