Abbatacola: White Sox Should've Sold Chris Sale At Deadline, Changed Their Culture
By Matt Abbatacola--
(CBS) The MLB trade deadline passed Monday afternoon, and left-hander Chris Sale is still a White Sox. There's only one way to put this: A mistake was made.
With a blockbuster deal, general manager Rick Hahn could have changed the culture and future of a team he admits is "mired in mediocrity."
The White Sox failed to deal from a position of strength against a team's desperation to win now. The situation was right for Hahn to strike while Sale's stock is at its highest level. The yearly Cy Young candidate is coming off his fifth consecutive All-Star appearance, which included starting for the American League just a few weeks ago. Since 2012, Sale has been a 26.1 WAR player. He's an elite left-handed starter who sports a 14-4 mark, 3.17 ERA and 1.03 WHIP this season.
Sale is also a bad employee. He has shown zero respect for manager Robin Ventura and the front office and has a history of incidents.
First, there was the LaRoche saga, in which Adam LaRoche retired after executive vice president Kenny Williams asked him to cut down on the time his 14-year-old son, Drake, spent in the clubhouse. In the aftermath, Sale torched Williams, calling him a liar. Then came the jersey-slashing drama on July 23, when Sale was sent home like a child after destroying the team's 1976 throwback uniforms in a fit of rage.
How many other times has he been asked to leave for inappropriate behavior?
Sale is a hot head and seems to be a surly guy. I wonder if a change of scenery -- one where his childish behavior isn't enabled -- might do him some good.
It should be noted the 27-year-old Sale is healthy right now. For the White Sox's future, let's hope it stays that way, because one injury could make his trade value plummet.
Stay well, Captain Red Ass and let me be the first to say: Good riddance, if the White Sox ever decide to do make the right move.
Matt Abbatacola is a producer, host and update anchor at 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MattAbbatacola and email him at Matt@670thescore.com.