White Sox Suspend Chris Sale For 5 Days
(CBS) The White Sox have suspended ace left-hander Chris Sale for five days following a clubhouse altercation prior to Saturday's game in which he cut up team uniforms in frustration.
Sale was scratched from his Saturday start against the Tigers and sent home. His five-day suspension includes Saturday, so it will run through Wednesday. Sale is eligible to come back Thursday, so he could start that night against the Cubs, though the White Sox haven't made that official yet.
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn reached the discipline on Sale after talking with executive vice president Kenny Williams and owner Jerry Reinsdorf.
Sale was upset by the 1976 throwback uniforms that he viewed as uncomfortable to wear, but the problems run deeper. Sale has had his name in trade rumors lately and hasn't been happy with how the organization has handled that matter, according to reports.
"We're all extremely disappointed that we have to deal with this issue at this time, both from the standpoint of the club as well as Chris' perspective," Hahn said. "It's unfortunate that it's become this level of an issue and a distraction, taking away from what we're trying to accomplish on the field."
When asked, Hahn stopped short of saying that Sale was remorseful.
"We both expressed remorse that it got to this point," Hahn said. "At that point last night, I think Chris stood by his actions. Part of was makes Chris great, part of what makes Chris elite, is his passion and commitment. We've seen that sometimes spill out from between the white lines.
"I don't think he's happy with being suspended. I don't think he agrees with it, probably. At the same time, he understood, when we spoke in my office yesterday, he understood this was coming. He understood why it was coming."
This incident doesn't affect how Sale fits with the White Sox in the big picture, Hahn said, saying he remains a team leader.
"It does not change our belief that Chris Sale can help this club win a championship," Hahn said.
"It doesn't move the needle one iota in terms of his value to this club or his value to any other club that may be interested in his services or the likelihood of him being moved or kept.
"None of that stuff is impacted at all by these events."
Sale didn't demand a trade, Hahn said.
"At no point did he express the desire not to be a Chicago White Sox," Hahn said.
Hahn didn't get into specifics of Saturday's incident and how Sale went about cutting up the uniforms.
Sale was at the center of controversy back in March as well, when he called Williams a liar during the Adam LaRoche saga, in which Williams had asked LaRoche to significantly cut back the time that he brought his 14-year-old son, Drake, around the clubhouse. LaRoche then retired.
This incident didn't have anything to do with Sale and Williams directly, as Williams wasn't present at U.S. Cellular Field on Saturday, Hahn said.
Sale has been found himself in other dramas as well in the past few seasons, including an April 2015 incident in which he tried to enter the visiting Royals' clubhouse and confront Yordano Ventura.
Sale is 14-3 with a 3.18 ERA this season.
In Sale's absence, the White Sox called up right-hander Anthony Ranaudo from Triple-A Charlotte.