White Sox should be busy during upcoming Winter Meetings. Could a trade with the Astros involving All-Star pitcher work?
The Chicago White Sox could trade Chris Sale this offseason. With the Sox in the midst of a possible rebuild, would it make sense for them to trade Sale to an American League team? The one AL team that could match up well with the Sox in a trade for Sale is the Houston Astros.
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The Astros have a wealth of young talent in major leagues and in their farm system. A trade for Sale can not only put them at the top of the AL West, it could make them a favorite in the American League.
Brian Draus, of Southside Showdown recently wrote about a trade package for Sale from the Astros involving young third baseman Alex Bregman. Bregman, the second overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft had a solid first season with the Astros in 2016. The 22-year-old hit .264 with eight home runs in 49 games for Houston.
If the Sox are going to trade Sale to Houston, you can rest assured general manager Rick Hahn would insist on Bregman being part of a return. This would most certainly be hard for Astros fans, but the Sox should seek a high return for Sale. Other players the Sox could request in such a trade involving Sale to the Astros are prospects Francis Martes, Kyle Tucker, and Forrest Whitley. Martes and Whitley are both pitchers, and Tucker is an outfielder in the Astros farm system.
Hearing the #Astros might be close to inking Encarnacion, possibly within the next day or two
— wildcatdave (@barstoolWSD) November 30, 2016
This would make dealing for a front of the line starter (cough Sale cough) next on their list of priorities I'd guess
— wildcatdave (@barstoolWSD) November 30, 2016
Martes is listed as the 29th top prospect, and top Astros prospect according to mlbpipeline.com. The 21-year-old was 9-6 with a 3.30 ERA this past season for Double A Corpus Christi Hooks. Whitley, the Astros third ranked prospect and 69th overall was 0-1 with a 3.18 ERA for Greenville Astros of the Rookie league in four starts this past season. Tucker, the Astros second top prospect and 49th overall hit .276 with 31 stolen bases in 101 games for Class A Full Season Quad Cities River Bandits. Each of these players along with Bregman could make for an interesting package for Sale.
Next: Are White Sox Serious About Trading Chris Sale?
If the Sox are intent on trading Sale, they will be diligent in their pursuits for a strong return for the left-handed pitcher. The Sox front office have a great opportunity to improve the team’s farm system. It will be up to Hahn to ensure the Sox don’t trade Sale for anything less than a spectacular return.