The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Red Sox land Sale in trade
White Sox ship ace left-hander to Boston for four prospects.
No surprise that Chris Sale got traded. The real shocker? That the Boston Red Sox swooped in to snag him.
The reloading Red Sox pulled off the biggest deal yet at the winter meetings, acquiring the dominant ace from the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday for a hefty package of four prospects.
“The ability to get a Chris Sale doesn’t come along very often,” Boston President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski said.
Sale joined an already talented rotation with the AL East champions, now pitching alongside 2016 AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello, former winner David Price and knuckleballer Steven Wright.
Sale leaves behind a bad reputation in Chicago, suspended by the team last summer after he flew into a rage and cut up retro uniforms the club was supposed to wear.
Sale, 27, has been an AllStar in each of the past five seasons, finishing high in Cy Young Award voting every time, but has never played in the postseason.
To get the left-hander, Boston traded third baseman Yoan Moncada, considered by many the top young talent in baseball, along with pitchers Michael Kopech and Victor Diaz, and outfielder Luis Basabe.
Sale was a top trade target across the majors this offseason, and Washington seemed to be the favorite to land him this week.
“We put a lot of effort into it and thought we made a good, valiant effort ... and we fell short,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said.
Sale was 17-10 with a 3.34 ERA and 233 strikeouts last season. He also comes with a team-favorable contract that calls for a $12 million salary this season and includes club options for 2018 at $12.5 million and 2019 at $15 million.
The Red Sox also acquired right-hander Tyler Thornburg from the Brewers on Tuesday in a package that included infielder Travis Shaw. Thornburg, 28, will become Boston’s eighth-inning guy, setting up closer Craig Kimbrel. Thornburg was 8-5 with 13 saves and a 2.15 ERA in 67 games for the Brewers.
Diamondbacks: Catcher Jeff Mathis signed a $4 million, two-year contract. Mathis, 33, played the past four seasons as the No. 2 catcher for the Marlins. He hit .238 in 41 games.
Yankees: New York will retire Derek Jeter’s jersey number on May 14 in part of a ceremony that also will include the former shortstop receiving a plaque in Monument Park. His No. 2 will be the 21st number retired by the club.
Mets: Four-time All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes, who was moved to third base when he returned last summer to New York, figures to see action in the outfield during spring training.
■ Manager Terry Collins said he’d like Tim Tebow to play in spring training games in Port St. Lucie, Fla., even though the former NFL quarterback has a long ways to go in his transition to baseball.