Boston Red Sox ‘will listen to enquiries for Chris Sale as they bid to replace Xander Bogaerts at shortstop… and starting pitcher could be traded four months after freak BIKE injury ended his season’
- Chris Sale endured a disastrous season, only playing two games through injury
- It was a wrist injury that curtailed his campaign, suffered in a freak bike accident
- The Red Sox will reportedly listen to enquiries for the pitcher this winter
- Boston are desperately trying to replace All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts
Boston left-hander Chris Sale is not on the trade block, but the Red Sox are reportedly listening to enquiries about his availability.
The team’s willingness to field offers is based on the belief that its starting rotation has depth, the New York Post reported Saturday.
After the loss of shortstop Xander Bogaerts in free agency, and the expected move of Trevor Story to the position, the Red Sox have a big infield hole to fill and could use a pitcher as trade collateral.
Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale could be traded this winter after an injury-hit career
Xander Bogaerts has left a big hole at shortstop for Boston after he headed to the Padres
The Red Sox have six potential starter candidates less than two months before the start of spring training: Sale, left-hander James Paxton, and right-handers Nick Pivetta, Garrett Whitlock, Tanner Houck and Brayan Bello.
Sale signed a five-year, $145 million contract with the Red Sox in March 2019 and is under contract through the 2024 season. It includes a full no-trade clause.
Still, the Red Sox haven’t gotten much return from their investment in Sale, who will turn 34 just before the start of the 2023 season, because of injuries.
The seven-time All-Star underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the 2020 season, not returning to MLB action until August 2021.
Sale’s season ended after just two games when he suffered an embarrassing bike injury
In July, Sale threw a violent tantrum after a poor rehab start in the minor leagues
In 2022, Sale missed time due to a rib stress fracture, a finger fracture and a broken right wrist. The latter resulted from a bicycle accident and ended his season.
As a result, he has pitched just 48 1/3 innings over the past three seasons combined.
In July, Sale threw a violent tantrum after a poor rehab start in the minors and ripped a whiteboard off the clubhouse wall before downplaying his rough night as ‘a bit of a hiccup’.
He was seen furiously destroying a minor league clubhouse following a dismal performance in Triple A-Worcester.
The video showed the 6-foot-6 southpaw taking a bat into the tunnel and smashing a wall before kicking a whiteboard and then ripping it down, leaving him with a mound of debris at his feet.
Sale is 114-75 lifetime with a 3.03 ERA in 323 games (243 starts) for the Chicago White Sox (2010-16) and Red Sox. His rate of 11.07 strikeouts per nine innings is the highest all-time.
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