Chicago White Sox: Surgery relevant for Chris Sale trade

Chris Sale’s recent procedure makes sure that injuries will forever have an impact on a major trade that was made in 2016.

The Chris Sale trade will forever be one of the most famous deals in Chicago White Sox’s history and on Monday, another point of discussion came up.

Chris Sale got Tommy John Surgery, as it was reported he would need recently, on Monday as detailed by Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.

That will ensure he misses this season, when it starts, as well as probably part of the 2021 season.

While the Boston Red Sox certainly will never regret the deal that saw them acquire Sale and win a World Series in 2018, the surgery certainly is a factor to consider when talking about the blockbuster trade.

In exchange for Sale, as many know, the Chicago White Sox received Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe, and Victor Diaz (MLB.com).

Kopech, 23, also had Tommy John Surgery last season, making the two arms that have started a major league game having had undergone the procedure.

Certainly, the Chicago White Sox wouldn’t want a re-do on this trade as Moncada alone was worth it, especially with his new team-friendly extension. Add in Kopech, who is still very highly regarded, and that deal looks phenomenal.

While Diaz appears unlikely to make a serious impact in the South Side anytime soon, if ever, Luis Alexander Basabe could very well prove to be a very strong third piece in that deal as he ranks ninth on the White Sox’s top 30 prospects list according to MLB Pipeline.

As previously said, the Red Sox will never regret a deal that brought them a championship and rightfully so, but they certainly sacrificed a lot to get their ring behind Sale.

Kopech is probably the player that will be key to determining just how great of a deal that was, though, as he’s clearly the biggest wild card.

If the right-hander capable of throwing over 100 MPH is able to return to form in his first season back from Tommy John Surgery, then the White Sox might have found their Chris Sale replacement in a year the Red Sox could badly use one.

This deal will probably forever be seen as a win for both sides, but the White Sox are definitely set up better for the long haul, especially considering Sale’s contract.

Prior to last season, the left-hander signed a five-year, $145 million extension with Boston that is set to start in 2020 (NBC Sports Boston).

That money, though, is going to go to waste possibly for the first year-and-a-half of it with him on the mend.

The White Sox certainly look like they are the ones benefiting from this deal in the near future, at least, due to Chris Sale’s Tommy John Surgery.