Chris Sale Nearing Extension with Red Sox
With a 29-12 record over two season with the Red Sox, posting a 2.56 ERA over that time and striking out over 500 batters, Chris Sale may be here for a bit longer. Per ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, the two sides are close to signing a five year, $150 million deal.
Chris Sale’s deal, if completed, is likely to be in the five-year, $150 million range, league sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 22, 2019
A signing of this magnitude is rather odd considering the Red Sox past. Why? Well the Red Sox for a long period of time would refuse to pay pitchers who were 30 or about to turn 30, a big deal. Until David Price. Because of this rule, the Red Sox let go of Jon Lester. Yeah, remember him? Yet the Red Sox did find Lester’s replacements in Price and Sale.
Though Sale does have some health concerns, especially with the shoulder. In two consecutive seasons he’s been a mere shell of himself. He’s been amazing pre All Star break, but the stretch at the end of the season has been worrisome. Even though he was the hero this past postseason, it’s still concerning that his shoulder has issues late in the year. With that being said, Red Sox nation would have no other pitcher be on the mound in a must win scenario. Let alone opening day. Sale has even started the past two All Star games for the American League is a seven time All Star.
Money Issues
With Chris Sale signing again with the Red Sox, they’ll have to pay some extra dough. As of right now, the Red Sox opening day payroll for 2019 will be just a tick under $237.6 million. This number is well over the $206 million and $226 million thresholds. If Sale’s contract is effective next year, they’ll only have to pay 42 percent of every dollar in the luxury tax. Yeah, only 42 percent, not big deal. See below.
- 30 percent on every dollar between $206 million and $226 million
- 42 percent on every dollar between $226 million and $246 million
- 75 percent on every dollar above $246 million, plus following year’s first round draft pick moves back 10 spots.
With the Red Sox also trying to Sign Mookie Betts, money will become an issue for Boston in the near future. But with the Red Sox willing to sign Sale, does this mean they’re starting to think about moving away from Mookie Betts?
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