With the non-waiver trade deadline a mere 13 hours away, the chase for starting pitchers is expected to intensify. That’s put the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays squarely in the spotlight as each club has starters who are garnering plenty of interest.
However, with the market slanted in their favor, it remains unclear how motivated the Rays or White Sox are to trade any of their pitchers. If made available, Chris Sale easily becomes the best starter on the trading block.
One report indicated the White Sox wanted upwards of five top prospects in any deal for their ace. A trade for Sale meets the criteria Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman set when he said the club would pursue ‘elite-level players.’
But trading from their stash of top prospects isn’t something the Dodgers have done under Friedman thus far. On Sunday afternoon it was reported Los Angeles had largely focused on Chris Archer and other Rays starters, with little movement on the Sale front.
That appears to have since changed in some regard with the Dodgers reportedly among the three teams discussing a trade for Sale, per Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball:
Word is that the Rangers, Dodgers and Red Sox are three of the teams talking to the White Sox and three of the potential landing spots, maybe the main three potential landing spots — though at the moment it’s hard to tell if any of them has a great chance to land the five-time All-Star.
The trade discussions are said to have included Jose De Leon and Julio Urias:
It is believed the White Sox and Dodgers have spoken about L.A.’s top two pitching prospects — Julio Urias and Jose DeLeon — as part of a potential package
Los Angeles has previously remained steadfast in their refusal to include Urias, their top pitching prospect, in any trade. However, it recently was reported the Dodgers were willing to change that stance to acquire Sale.
The 27-year-old is 14-4 with a 3.17 ERA, 128 ERA+ and 1.03 WHIP in 20 starts. Sale recently was suspended by the White Sox after cutting up throwback uniforms that were to be worn for a game he was scheduled to start in.
Sale is under team control through the 2019 season, with club options on his contract for 2018 and 2019.
