Chicago Cubs: Sale may be dealt, but not to the North Side

The Chicago Cubs and everybody else may want Chris Sale. But the Sox aren’t likely to deal him to the Cubs.

There was a poll taken recently in a Chicago media outlet, that asked, “Should the Sox trade Sale to the Cubs.” Over 60% of fans responded “Yes”, but it is not going to happen.

The Chicago Cubs and the White Sox are rivals. One team resides on the North Side and owns the city. The White Sox play on the South Side to smaller crowds. The front offices speak to each other but Sox General Manager Rick Hahn put a kibosh on any prospective deal in stating, “I don’t expect a lot of deals done between the White and Cubs and I don’t think I am really saying anything surprising when I say that.” That was recently reported on CSN.com out of Chicago.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs should keep close eye on non-tender candidate Cody Bellinger
• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups

Chris Sale, 27, is one of the top starting pitchers in the American League. This past season he went 17-10, with an ERA of 3.34. He struck out 233 hitters. In one game, he was leading after pitching eight great innings, but the bullpen collapsed and blew the save. So, he could have been at least 18-9.  He is 74-50 in his career with an ERA of 3.00. Impressive numbers and some team may well be getting a star pitcher.

The cost not worth the Sale

The Cubs would love a great left-handed pitcher, but the cost of getting Sale would be prohibitive. The Sox are asking a lot. There are teams currently interested such as the Atlanta Braves, the Washington Nationals and the Boston Red Sox. A deal might happen and it might not. If a team is willing to pay the freight, then it might happen. Even if you look beyond the public relations fiasco that such a deal would cause in Chicago, the Cubs don’t want to give up players that the Sox are asking. Besides, the Cubs gave up a lot of talent to get flame-thrower Aroldis Chapman last July, and Chapman might not be re-signed.

The games are over and now we are in the off-season “business” of baseball.  Sale had a temper tantrum in the clubhouse last summer when he reportedly cut-up home jerseys for a promotion day. Evidently, he took scissors to some jerseys which caused the Sox to suspend him for five games. It was thought his days in Chicago were over, but things simmered down and he finished out the year.

Next: Cubs Winter meeting goals

Sale has landed in the top six in Cy Young award voting for the past six seasons. He has pitched in five All-Star games. When he is on his game, he is extremely difficult to hit. He is a fierce competitor and gives 100% when he takes the mound. He might be going somewhere, but it won’t be the Chicago Cubs.