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Atlanta Braves Talking To Chicago White Sox About Lefty Chris Sale

By Jeff Schafer

Jun 21, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 21, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Braves Talking To White Sox About Sale

The Atlanta Braves are looking to upgrade a few key positions for the 2017 season.  One of which is the starting rotation.  The Braves have already added veteran pitchers Bartolo Colon, R.A. Dickey and Josh Collementer, but that doesn’t mean General Manager John Coppolella is done shopping.

It would be interesting to read Coppy’s notepad of names, but you’ve got to think at the top of the list has to be left-handed pitcher Chris Sale.

The Chicago White Sox are rumored to be listening to phone calls regarding their star pitcher and it sounds as though Coppy has had talks with the team.

The 6’6″, 180 pound lefty has already made quite the mark in the MLB.  A five-time AL All-Star –every year he’s been a starting pitcher (didn’t start his first two years) — that’s won 74 games in his seven seasons.  He holds a 3.00 ERA for his professional career with 1244 strikeouts compared to 260 walks.

Since the topic of Sale to the Braves has been circling the past week, I decided to reach out to our buddies at Southside Showdown (Fansided’s Chicago White Sox page) to see what their take was on this trade match.

Tomahawk Take: Rumors have been swirling already this offseason about the White Sox moving Chris Sale. What do you think it would take for the Braves to acquire him?

Southside Showdown:  I think the Braves will have to trade four of their top prospects (Albies, Newcomb, Allard, Maitan). They will also need to include a major league ready player such as Inciatre. This is a pretty steep price for the Braves to pay, but Sale is not only one the better pitchers in the game but he has a team-friendly contract.

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TT: I also heard the name Todd Frazier being potentially thrown around. Braves could be looking for an upgrade at the 3B spot. After a down year, what would it take the Braves to acquire Frazier?

SS: Todd Frazier shouldn’t command much from the Braves but possibly a low level prospect. With Frazier having one year remaining on his contract, the Braves shouldn’t have to give up much in a trade.

TT: What percentage as of the end of November would you give of Sale being traded this offseason?

SS: I think there’s a 60 percent Sale is traded. I don’t think any team will be able to meet the demands of the White Sox.

Wow…so SS thinks we’ll need to send Chicago four top prospects PLUS a major league player like Ender Inciarte?!?!  I’m guessing this could have been what Chicago’s GM Rick Hahn may have told Coppy on their initial phone call and Coppy laughed and hung up the phone.

To give the White Sox this package would make zero to completely below zero sense.  It would be completely against what the Braves front office has done the past two years.

Alan Carpenter gave a pretty realistic trade offer yesterday when he said Braves could offer Matt Wisler, Sean Newcomb, Lucas Sims, Luke Dykstra and Ricardo Sanchez for Sale (he also gave three other potential offers, check them out here).

Another reason the Braves (and other teams) are interested in Sale is because of his team friendly contract.  He’ll be paid $12 million this year and has a team option in 2018 and 2019 with pay outs of $12.5 million and $13.5 million.

Next: What If the Braves Stop Here for 2017?

Sale is a pitcher that changes the entire dynamic of a rotation.  He’s the guy you start in the Wild Card game, he’s the guy you give the ball to in the pressure game, he’s everything the Braves have been looking for since the days of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Tim Hudson.  But the Braves can’t give the camp to acquire him.

I’m hoping Coppy can somehow do his magic and talk Hahn down!  If the Braves could acquire this 27-year-old, it would be a terrific addition to our rotation.  Gotta trust in Coppy!!

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