Levine: Chris Sale Would Bring Huge Return In Offseason Deal
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- What would a team give up for one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball? What would you demand in return? Those could be the multi-million dollar questions after the season when White Sox general manager Rick Hahn is starting to reconfigure his ball club.
This premise of ace left-hander Chris Sale being moved is based on the fact that Chicago will need to retool its offense after the season. Getting help from the minor leagues will most likely be a marginal proposition, as will the chance of spending more money. The team went to the mat and maxed out with a $120 million payroll in 2015.
So moving the 26-year-old Sale would be the quickest route to retooling an offense. With that in mind, three major league scouts were asked what the package would have to be in order to obtain him.
"The idea that he has one of the most favorable contracts for a star pitcher is just icing on the cake if you are lucky enough to trade for Sale," an AL scout said. "You could almost name your price in players that you ask for back."
The scout was referring to the team-friendly contract that the White Sox signed Sale to in the spring of 2013. He inked a five-year, $32-million contract with club options of $12.5 million and $13.5 million in 2018 and 2019. So the maximum deal of seven years for around $60 million for seven years makes Sale more attractive to deal or retain.
For a big-market team such as the Yankees, they could rationalize dealing three top prospects for Sale. With the savings on his contract, they could still easily afford the $27 million a year that it will likely take to sign a free agent such as Zack Greinke or David Price.
"You are getting the top power pitcher in the game," an NL Central scout said. "That type of pitcher not only stops losing streaks, they give bullpens a day off. I would really hesitate to trade him. From a moral factor, you (tick) off the players and you turn off your fan base."
All that may be true, but Sale pitches in around 30 games a season. If the White Sox could obtain two or three positional players of importance that play every day, they may want to at least kick the tires on a deal.
"Power pitchers have a certain shelf life," an AL East scout said. "If you think a 26-year-old pitcher will be around dealing like he has for a couple of seasons, you go for that shut-down ace. You must be in the mode of a playoff contender if you make the move."
Deciding who they are as an organization may determine if the White Sox seriously listen to clubs' proposals for Sale. Chicago hasn't had a serious tear-down of the major league team since the late 1980s. Ownership hasn't believed the fan base would stand still for a long rebuild. That method would be similar to the five-year downsizing the Chicago Cubs just went through.
The leadership quality of Sale and his relentless pursuit to be a better pitcher and teammate also loom large in deciding on a the proper course to take if a team blows you away with an offer.
Should he stay or should he go? Only White Sox brass will know.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.