MLB Trade Rumors: Chris Sale’s trade value won’t be cut
By John Buhler
Though Chicago White Sox ace pitcher Chris Sale might be on the trade market after his recent outburst, Chicago’s asking price for him won’t drop one bit.
According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, just because Chicago White Sox star pitcher Chris Sale has been suspended by the team for his incident on Saturday for destroying the White Sox’s throwback jerseys doesn’t mean it negatively affects Chicago’s asking price in a trade for their best player.
Sale is having himself a marvelous year on the mound for Chicago’s baseball team on the South Side. In 19 starts in 2016, Sale has a 14-3 record, a 3.18 ERA, and a 1.008 WHIP leading the White Sox’s pitching staff.
However, Sale’s success toeing the rubber for the White Sox hasn’t translated into a strong season for the club. Through 96 games, the White Sox are four games below .500 with a 46-50 record, good enough for fourth place in the American League Central.
Given that Sale has been one of the best left-handed starting pitchers in the big leagues the last few years, the White Sox should still command a huge return for him in a trade should Chicago consider parting ways with their best player.
Sale is only 27 years old and can help any number of clubs position themselves for a deep 2016 MLB postseason run. Despite dominating on the mound for the White Sox the last several seasons, Sale has yet to pitch in a postseason game in the big leagues.
Chicago currently has the fourth longest active postseason drought of any team in baseball, having last played in the 2008 American League Division Series. Only the San Diego Padres (2006 NLDS), the Miami Marlins (2003 World Series), and the Seattle Mariners (2001 ALCS) have experienced longer postseason droughts than Sale’s White Sox.
Sale might still be available for trade as the 2016 MLB trade deadline on August 1st rapidly approaches, but don’t think for a second that Sale’s throwback jersey destruction is going to drop his perceived trade value in the slightest. He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball and it will take a ton of top prospects for Chicago to trade away their left-handed ace.
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