The Chicago White Sox suspended pitcher Chris Sale on Sunday for five days due to a clubhouse incident occurring Saturday.
The club’s official Twitter account announced Sale’s suspension:
As the White Sox also announced Saturday, they sent Sale home prior to what was supposed to be his turn to start against the Detroit Tigers. Tommy Stokke of FanRag Sports initially reported Sale didn’t want to wear a throwback jersey, so he cut them up to prevent anyone from wearing them.
Sale has had a magnificent 2016 campaign with a 14-3 record and 3.18 ERA.
The fact that Sale was barred from making his start Saturday is all the more interesting since he’s been the subject of rumors ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball reported the White Sox are asking for five prospects in exchange for Sale. MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan reported the Texas Rangers are exploring a deal but are reluctant to part with outfielder Nomar Mazara.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports echoed the sentiment that the White Sox would demand a king’s ransom for Sale if they put him on the market:
Is Sale a player who wants out? Maybe. But he does not control the process; the White Sox do. And the team, according to multiple reports, wants five top young players for its ace left-hander, who started the All-Star Game and will earn $38 million between 2017 and ’19 if his two club options are exercised — a bargain rate if ever there was one.
The White Sox eventually might come off their demands, but they’re not going to cave and they need not hurry. Indeed, numerous executives have told me in recent days that the market for Sale might be even better in the offseason, when the White Sox could involve more clubs.
Chicago can justify dealing Sale to a degree as a means of bolstering the roster amid a 46-50 season after a 23-10 start.
Unless the White Sox feel Sale’s tantrum is part of a bigger issue and isn’t worth the trouble, though, they would probably be better off retaining their ace. Sale, 27, has a team-friendly contract that pays him only $12 million in 2017 and features club options for the following two years, per Spotrac.
The southpaw’s combination of youth, talent, production and value is rare and attractive to potential trade suitors. However, his destruction of equipment in the clubhouse a little more than a week away from possibly joining a new team may harm his trade value.
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