Chris Sale reportedly agrees to contract extension with Red Sox (Updated)
Chris Sale and the Boston Red Sox are nearing an agreement on a contract extension that will keep the lefty in Boston “for years to come”.
Oct 13, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) pitches during the first inning against the Houston Astros in game one of the 2018 ALCS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY SportsOct 13, 2018; Boston, MA: Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale pitches during the first inning against the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the 2018 ALCS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. (Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)
From the Baseball Newswire at 985TheSportsHub.com
Lefty Chris Sale and the Boston Red Sox are nearing an agreement on a contract extension, according to a new report by Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. The extension is reportedly expected to keep Sale in Boston "for years to come".
Update: According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Sale's extension is going to be in the five-year, $150 million range. An AAV of $30 million would tie Sale for the fourth-highest in baseball with the Nationals' Max Scherzer. Sale's Red Sox teammate, David Price, makes $31 million per season.
Update No. 2: Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Chris Sale extension will be for five years and $145 million, an average annual value of $29 million.
Sale, who turns 30 years old on March 30, has posted a 2.56 ERA and 29-12 record in two seasons with the Red Sox. He's struck out 545 batters in 372.1 combined innings.
The veteran lefty finished in the top-5 in voting for the American League Cy Young award in both seasons with the Red Sox. In 2017 he finished second to the Indians' Corey Kluber, and in 2018 he finished fourth.
Despite Sale's dominance as a starter in the regular season, it has yet to translate to consistent postseason success. Sale's best postseason outing to date came in Game 1 of last season's ALDS against the Yankees, in which he allowed two runs in 5.1 innings while striking out 8. He pitched only four innings in each of his next two postseason starts, including Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers (2 runs allowed).
Sale did, however, dominate when pitching out of the bullpen in October. He pitched a perfect eighth inning against the Yankees in Game 4 of the ALCS and a perfect ninth to close out the World Series over L.A.
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