Chicago White Sox: Has Chris Sale Forced a Trade?
By Ron Juckett
After being scratched from his start for cutting up jerseys, has Chicago White Sox hurler Chris Sale forced a trade?
In one of the more bizarre incidents in baseball history, Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale was scratched from his start Saturday night against the Detroit Tigers for throwing a tantrum. Allegedly, he was not a fan of the planned retro uniform the White Sox planned to wear and cut the jersey’s up.
Now there is a way to endear yourself to teammates and management.
As the ChiSox head out of the American League playoff picture, intense speculation from all corners wonders hourly whether the ace will be traded. At 14-3 with an ERA of 3.18 and a WHiP of 1.008, there is no shortage of interested teams if Chicago decides Sale is no longer part of the plan.
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At 27 and on a very team-friendly deal potentially through 2019, there is no incentive for Executive Vice President Kenny Williams to do it no matter how much sleep he loses. When Adam LaRoche went home from Spring Training after refusing to banish his own teenager from the clubhouse, it was Sale who loudly took Williams to task at a team meeting. It is safe to say Sale and the White Sox are not the best of buddies.
After a hot April where the White Sox went 17-8, they spiraled downward with a 29-42 record since. Things are not well on Chicago’s South Side and the pressure likely got to Sale.
Discussions of a trade sending him to the Texas Rangers went public. Then yesterday, Chicago backed off, unsure where they should go. When you are the subject of every rumor online, in print and on ESPN, the pressure will wear on you. Known as a surly player, he snapped Saturday. If he did not want out of Chicago before, he does now.
If the ChiSox and the Rangers were as close as rumored, Sale would go from a troubled team to a favorite to win the AL. Texas would boast a starting pitcher front three of Sale, Cole Hamels and Colby Lewis. A trio capable of causing nightmares from Cleveland to San Francisco. Whatever misgivings he might have on being traded, Sale will walk into a new team with a shot at a championship.
Did the White Sox get cold feet?
Although signed through next year for $12 million, the White Sox hold two one-year options for $12.5 and $13.5 million through 2019. With Sale worth in the neighborhood of $30-35 million a season on the open market, you can understand why the White Sox are hesitant on his future. James Shields, who came over from San Diego, is due $21 million a year for the next two seasons and cannot keep the ball in the yard.
Does Sale want out? Is he forcing a trade?
He is no longer happy with the White Sox. You do not cause a distraction so big you get sent home within 90 minutes before a start. Likely, Sale had accepted he was about to be traded and prepared for live elsewhere before the White Sox changed their minds. This is how he handled it.
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Teams desire for him will not change. What has is the White Sox leverage. If Sale is at that point, he is done in Chicago. His new team can make a better deal as the ChiSox will move him for a reasonable offer.
As the late Joe Garagiola said, baseball is a funny game.