Between 2012 and 2018, Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale made the All-Star Team all seven seasons and finished between second and sixth in the AL Cy Young Award in all seven. 

He’s also played in exactly 11 games over the last three seasons. Raking in $90 million in salary those three seasons from the Red Sox, he’s been one of the biggest financial disasters for a team in recent MLB history. 

He’s still owed $27.5 million each of the next two years and another $20 million in 2025 in his age 36 season. Is he still the right fit in Boston, a team that may be closer to a rebuild than a championship? If so, would any team take a leap on a top 10-level pitcher when healthy, but a payroll-crippling liability if not? 

With Massachusetts sports betting sites set to go live in the next few months, Bookies.com oddsmaker Adam Thompson reveals his 2023 team MLB odds for the 12-year veteran. 

Chris Sale Trade Odds

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Sale was one of the dominant left-handers in MLB for a long run. He won 17 games on three occasions and has led MLB on two occasions in strikeouts and complete games. He has a career 3.03 ERA. 

Boston reportedly doesn't want to trade Sale, but is willing to listen. That said, Sale has a complete no-trade clause. If he doesn’t want to go somewhere, he’s not going there. 

But few could argue if Boston wanted to cut ties at this point. The Sox finished dead-last in the AL East in 2022 then lost top player Xander Bogaerts in free agency. They did just ink Rafael Devers to a huge 11-year deal, but on paper they don’t appear to be ready to compete with the Yankees and Blue Jays in the East, let alone for the AL pennant or the 2023 World Series. Getting a big haul for Sale, if offered, could be appetizing. 

It would take a MLB betting title contender with spending money and an all-in attitude to make a play for Sale. There are teams out there that fit that mold. 

Top Contenders To Trade For Chris Sale

The Cardinals aren’t typically massive spenders but they’re currently 16th in payroll and at nearly $40 million less than this past season. With Adam Wainwright set to retire after 2023 and three other starters slated to become free agents after the season, St. Louis could be proactive and add a potential game-changer. 

The Phillies came oh-so-close to winning a World Series and spent the offseason like they’re hell-bent on returning. Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola again lead the way, but after them nobody else is elite enough to have their name etched in stone. Going to Philly could get Sale to drop his no-trade clause. 

So too, perhaps, could the Dodgers, who have seemingly unlimited funds and more questions in the rotation than anywhere else. Walker Buehler is recovering from Tommy John surgery and Clayton Kershaw has a modest 22 starts each of the last two years. 

The Cubs have made moves to their batting order that give the appearance that they’re ready to compete again. The rotation, however, remains a low-ceiling unit. Adding Sale changes that. 

The Giants were hoping Logan Webb and Carlos Rodon would be the 1-2 punch of a solid five-man rotation. But Rodon is now with the Yankees. Sean Manaea (8-9, 4.96 with Oakland) and Anthony DeSclafani (0-2, 6.63) are likely to join Webb and Alex Cobb, but Sale would be a massive addition. 

The Field includes teams that will throw money at anything if it means improvement. The Rangers and Mets have proven starters, especially at the 1-3 spots, but each has made waves for inking Jacob deGrom and Justin Verlander, respectively. Would it really shock anyone if they tried to acquire a high-risk, high-reward arm? 

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