Dodgers Fans: Please Do Not Want Chris Sale
The trade deadline is less than a week away, and is it easy to fantasize what the Dodgers could look like at the beginning of August. The most popular name amongst the Dodger rumor mill is Chris Archer of the Rays, followed by Shelby Miller of the Dbacks.
The Dodgers were in the mix for reliever Aroldis Chapman, but he was traded to the Cubs yesterday. But, at the top of everyone’s wish list is Chicago White Sox’s ace Chris Sale, who feels more likely to be traded because of his “clubhouse incident”, destroying the team’s throwback jerseys before a game.
Sale has been on the market for a few years now, because that’s what happens to a great player on a not-so-great team (Insert any Mike Trout trade rumors here). Who knows if Sale is unhappy and wants to be on the move, but it doesn’t matter because the White Sox have all the control. And that leaves me to this: any dreams Dodgers fans may have about Sale joining the boys in blue need to go, immediately.
The Pulse of Dodger Fans: The Struggles of SupportIn a potential deal, the White Sox would have everything going for them. Chris Sale entered the All-Star break with a 14-3 record, an ERA of 3.38, with a 1.04 WHIP. He is no doubt a star, which is why Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost picked him to start this year’s All-Star game. Sale is also in his prime (at aged 27), so his numbers aren’t going south anytime soon. Sports Illustrated and other sources state that Sale’s “clubhouse incident” won’t affect his trade value.
[graphiq id=”jElGQLyUplH” title=”Chris Sale 2016 Complete Pitching Splits” width=”600″ height=”815″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/jElGQLyUplH” link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/14357/Chris-Sale” link_text=”Chris Sale 2016 Complete Pitching Splits | PointAfter” ]The most astounding part of Chris Sale’s tenure with the White Sox (in my opinion at least) is his contract. Sale won’t be a free agent until 2020, and until then, he is in a middle of a five-year, 32 million-dollar contract, which is insanely cheap for a player of his stature. His low-cost contract adds even more value for the best pitcher in the American League. Trading for Sale would be like trading for Madison Bumgarner, Felix Hernandez, or Dallas Keuchel, maybe even tougher.
It also doesn’t help that the trade market for pitchers isn’t strong this year, which increases his value some more.
Making Sense of Evan Longoria Coming to Los AngelesLast year, David Price, Cole Hamels, and Johnny Cueto were dealt at the trade deadline, and the Dodgers (if they make a trade this year) would have to take a chance on a pitcher like a Chris Archer, who is struggling this year. Unlike Archer, you know what you’re going to get if you have Chris Sale on your team. He is a star.
In the Aroldis Chapman deal, the Cubs traded their top prospect, Gleyber Torres, who is 19-years old and is in Class A. They also traded young arm Adam Warren and minor leaguers Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford, who are 21 and 22, respectively. This was a lot to give up, but if the Cubs win the World Series, it’s all worth it. The best team in baseball got even better.
Think of who the Dodgers would have to give up if they were to land Sale.
POLL: #Dodgers trade rumors, would you package Julio Urias in order to acquire Chris Sale? Tweet us your thoughts!
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) July 26, 2016
It’s going to have to take a lot more than Urias to land Sale. Urias is still 19 and is improving every start he gets for the Dodgers. As well as Urias, it would take a top prospect to trade like Jose DeLeon or Frankie Montas, maybe even both.
On top of that, a young Dodger may be on the move as well, like a Yasiel Puig or a Trayce Thompson. This is all speculation, but the White Sox trading Sale to the Dodgers would require double or more than what it took for the Cubs to get Chapman. It isn’t worth cleaning house for a guy like Sale. The Dodgers’ depth is why they continue to contend year after year and survive through their multitude of injuries.
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I’m actually surprised this is even a hard question to deal with, a few prospects in exchange for a Cy Young award winning pitcher who’s been consistently great for years? Hey, last year I was just like everyone else in thinking that Urias was untouchable, but a guy like Sale who is proven in exchange for a a guy whos had 50/50 results in the majors and is still several years from reaching his potential? So far I think you have to pull the trigger. The Dodgers have depth so a deal for Sale that includes Urias, Barnes, Montas, and Trayce Thompson or even Puig would be a hefty price but one worth paying for a pitcher of Sale’s caliber.
I think after this you do a trade for Jay Bruce and maybe even Jonathan LuCroy and we’ve got a World Series Parade as a send of for Vin!
I’d rather they give up top prospects for an elite talent like Sale than give any talent for Archer or Miller at this point. Neither Archer or Miller have demonstrated their worth this season, and giving up any top prospect for either of these two would be the definition of moronic!
DodgerBlue – Agreed, same with Odorizzi.