Red Sox Have Reportedly Checked In With White Sox On Chris Sale
BOSTON (CBS) -- The MLB trade deadline is fast approaching, and though the have already made a handful of trades to help bolster their starting rotation and bullpen, the Boston Red Sox are still working hard to put them over the top.
That includes placing a phone call to the Chicago White Sox, inquiring about All Star starting pitcher Chris Sale, according to baseball insider Jon Heyman:
The Red Sox, who already have made four trades, are said by some insiders to be greatly interested in the star pitchers, especially Sale, but the list of interested suitors is expected to be extremely long.
The Red Sox have indeed checked in with Chicago. Closer David Robertson could fit Boston as well, considering two of their best relievers are on the disabled list at the moment.
The White Sox haven't decided how seriously to shop their stars, and there's no certainty that either will be traded, as they love both pitchers.
The Red Sox and Dodgers are among teams with the prospect stash and payroll who could make a serious run at Sale, and while it isn't known for sure that the Dodgers are in, it is expected they, too, will make a call, at least, depending on the health of Clayton Kershaw, baseball's best pitcher who's out with a back ailment.
Dave Dombrowski already traded away Boston's top pitching prospect, 18-year-old Anderson Espinoza, this season, sending him to the San Diego Padres in exchange for lefty Drew Pomeranz. If it took their top pitching prospect to land a pitcher like Pomeranz, it's terrifying to think of the price tag Sale would command in a trade.
But Sale is one of the best pitchers in the game, and would likely be worth the lofty trade package in the end. He is 14-3 with a 3.18 ERA this season, striking out 129 in his 133 innings pitched. For his career, the 27-year-old lefty is 71-43 with a 2.95 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.
The MLB trade deadline is 4 p.m. on August 1.