From a Red Sox perspective, that’s a pretty fair return, but I agree with Cameron that it is light for Sale. Unfortunately, I doubt that the Red Sox would be willing to give up more, or possibly not even willing to deal that handful for Sale just because they don’t need Chris Sale all that badly to sacrifice any more future value than they already would be in that trade package. If you can’t get a premium for Sale, then the worst thing you could do is ship him out for pennies on the dollar. That only buries you further as an organization.

If the White Sox can get an absurdly favorable package for Sale, then by all means they should deal him, but in the case they can’t (which I think is likely) they should have a “buy” plan ready to go so they’re not stuck in the middle again.

Of course the most likely scenario ends up with the White Sox keeping Sale and not adding payroll which is some sadistic kind of awful.

If it is somehow a stretch to call a third year player “controlled” then somehow only players making the league minimum are worth their salaries, which is insanity.

If they don’t trade Rodon they will have to extended Sale or Quintana – they would not be able to extend both. So one of the three will be moved. My guess is Sale’s “Scottie Pippen” attitude makes him the likeliest of the three.

The one opposing consideration worth noting is that building around a young, position player-oriented core can create a higher floor for your team that allows you to dabble more in free agency for pitching over the longer term. That being said, I’d be assuming Hahn could get top-level talent in the Moncada/Benintendi realm in any Sale deal, which you’re saying is unlikely. If that’s the case, I’d rather see them go for FAs now, and continue the momentum Hostetler has seemed to build this year in fortifying the minors for years to come.

Excellent work!

I also continue to get the impression that Kenny Williams and Rick Hahn butt heads more than we are led to believe. If that is truly the case, Jerry needs to step in and tell Kenny to remove himself from running the team. Let Rick Hahn do his job and stay out of his way.