Fire Sale

At the 2016 winter meetings, Sad Sox GM Rick Hahn traded Chris Sale for Michael Kopech, Yoan Moncada and two prospects who never developed as hoped. How White Sox, that. Sale spent seven seasons with the White Sox, going74-50 with a 3.00 ERA. In the seven seasons since, he’s 64-33, with an ERA a shade north of 3. From 2019-2023, he went 17-18. This year, the 35-year old lefty has gone 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA for the Braves. Cy Young, anybody? Jerry Reinsdorf would point to that 2019-2023 stretch as a reason not to sign pitchers to long-term contracts. As for the other side, there’s what Sale did for the Sad Sox and what he’s accomplishing this year with Atlanta. The Sox could’ve gone after their first-round draft choice from 2010 instead of signing Erick Fedde and Chris Flexen, but that wouldn’t be the Sad Sox way. IN January, the Red Sox traded Sale and $16 million to the Braves, who are paying him $16 million this season and $22 million the next with an $18 million club option for 2026. [figures from mlb.com, 1-4-24] Fedde signed with the Sox for $15 million over two years and Flexen $1.75 million. Penny-wise to say the least. Signing a player of Sale’s caliber would’ve sent a clear message. Going after Fedde and Flexen does, too. I could talk about Kopech and Moncada, but, really, why bother?