Three aces in the Red Sox trade fountain
By Rick McNair
Sep 24, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches against the New York Yankees in the third inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Chris Sale: 13-11, K/9 11.82, BB/9 1.81, 3.41 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 2.73 FIP, 2.60 xFIP, 6.2 WAR.
Sale has been around since age 21 and the now 26-year-old left-hander is a four-time All-Star. The statistics ring out with a league leading K/9 that resulted in a league leading 274 strike outs. That ERA may alarm some, but the FIP was also a league leading figure. And sabermericians just fawn over FIP and its bosom buddy comparison xFIP.
If the Red Sox were willing to take the massive dump truck labeled “prospects” and fill it up, Sale would be my personal target. Sale is signed for four more years at 48 Million with the last two years, having relatively low (one million) team buy outs. Compare this contract to Rick Porcello and it is Filene’s Bargain Basement figures on the Sale contract.
Sale has reasonable splits for home and road with slightly higher traditional and metric figures on the road. However, Fenway Park has not been an enjoyable destination with a 0-1 record in five games. That is tempered somewhat about Sale’s record at other American League East parks. All show dominant stats with a 2.25 ERA. Unfortunately the record is 2-5.
The Chicago White Sox have traditionally been the second choice in the second city. With the Cubs now on the rise a bold or series of bold moves are necessary to gather ink and to gather talent since the other Sox have played .436 (212-274) ball for the last three seasons.
The contract certainly increases bargaining value for Rick Hahn, White Sox GM, and he needs some type of splash to energize a franchise that was 26th in major league attendance for 2015. The road figures are equally dismal, but Houston, Toronto and Kansas City were the bottom three if that allows some type of sympathetic bonding.
This, again, is “The One” for me. If the Red Sox wish to empty out the prospect vault sent those warm bodies to Chicago.
Sources: Fangraphs/Baseball-reference/Cot’s contracts
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