So much for those Boston and Los Angeles rumors: Jayson Stark of ESPN reports that the chances of Chris Sale getting traded before the 4pm EDT deadline are “under five percent.”
It would take a huge package to get Sale, one of baseball’s best starters. This is especially true given that he is under team control through 2019 at a reasonable-for-an-ace price. Just spitballing, it would seem that the White Sox would demand a package that begins with top Boston prospect Yoan Moncada, and most folks who follow Boston seem to think he’s untouchable. Add in the fact that the Red Sox would likely have to add in more and you can begin to see why Stark’s sources are so pessimistic.