Forget Zack Greinke, David Price and Johnny Cueto, the Red Sox's answer on the mound resides in Chicago.
The White Sox are beginning to turn the corner on trading Chris Sale, per CSN Chicago. What was once inconceivable saw an increase in odds according to one AL executive.
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"I'd say it's gone from zero percent to somewhere below one percent," he said.
...so you're saying there's a chance.
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White Sox GM Rick Hahn provided the usual stock answer when asked about Sale's availability, but even he acknowledged the potential for a trade if the right package is included.
"It's our job to listen," Hahn said. "We are open-minded on all our players. We don't view anyone as being 'untouchable.' At the same time, we realize we do have a few players on this roster, including Chris Sale, who are absolute premium talents, both from a performance standpoint and what they mean in our clubhouse.
"So while we're doing our due diligence and we're listening and haven't closed off any avenues, it would certainly take us needing to be overwhelmed to pull the trigger on something like that because you would be in theory trading away not only something special and important to our success over the next couple of years, but also leaving a hole in the wake."
If Chris Sale becomes "available" there's no doubt that with the #RedSox farm system and Dave Dombrowski, they would be the most ideal spot.
— Frank Pimentel (@FrankBostonTank) November 13, 2015
Unlike the marquee free agents -- David Price, Johnny Cueto and Zack Greinke -- Sale wouldn't demand an annual salary north of $20 million. The 26-year-old is contracted to earn $9.15 million in 2016 and $12.0 million in 2017. There's a team option of $12.5 million for 2018.
The cost in trading for Sale, however, won't come in the contract. It'll come in the package, which is rumored to center around SS Xander Bogaerts and C Blake Swihart.
A hefty price, but one that could benefit both parties long-term.
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