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AP Photo/Alex Gallardo
10. Chicago White Sox
Projected Rotation: RHP Dylan Cease, RHP Lance Lynn, RHP Lucas Giolito, RHP Mike Clevinger, RHP Michael Kopech
Projected SP WAR: 11.0
This is the first idea that came out of the “Hey, Wouldn’t This Be Fun?” file. Sale originally arrived in Boston by way of a 2016 trade with the White Sox, so how cool would it be if a trade sent him back to the South Side?
Pretty cool, all right. It’s just too bad that the fit is an awkward one. The Pale Hose don’t really need another starter, nor are they exactly overflowing with spare young talent for the Red Sox to take off their hands.
9. San Francisco Giants
Projected Rotation: RHP Logan Webb, RHP Alex Cobb, LHP Sean Manaea, RHP Ross Stripling, LHP Alex Wood
Projected SP WAR: 12.5
That’s not a bad rotation the Giants have, but it’s one of many parts of their roster that’s not up to par relative to their main competitors in the National League West. So, maybe they should kick the tires on Sale just in case?
But while the Giants do have more talent than the White Sox to barter with, we’re not sold that Sale would jump at the chance to go to San Francisco. In part because of the state of the NL West, the Giants’ contention outlook isn’t much better than Boston’s.
8. Arizona Diamondbacks
Projected Rotation: RHP Zac Gallen, RHP Merrill Kelly, LHP Madison Bumgarner, RHP Zach Davies, RHP Ryne Nelson
Projected SP WAR: 8.3
Elsewhere in the NL West, the Diamondbacks absolutely need to fortify their rotation if they’re to have any hope of keeping up this year. They’re also an intriguing trade partner for Boston on paper, as they still have spare outfielders even after moving Daulton Varsho.
Once again, though, it’s easy to imagine Sale nixing any deal that comes together. The Snakes were better in 2022 than they were in 2021, but they still have the third-most losses of any team over the last two seasons.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers
Projected Rotation: LHP Clayton Kershaw, LHP Julio Urías, RHP Tony Gonsolin, RHP Noah Syndergaard, RHP Dustin May
Projected SP WAR: 12.3
We’ve put the Dodgers here under the assumption that at some point they’re going to, you know, do something. And because we don’t think they should be overly confident in Syndergaard and May at the back end of their rotation.
So close are the Dodgers to next year’s $233 million luxury-tax threshold, however, that they would need Boston to either eat Sale’s entire contract or take on some dead money in exchange. Not impossible, perhaps, but not straightforward either.
6. Minnesota Twins
Projected Rotation: RHP Sonny Gray, RHP Joe Ryan, RHP Tyler Mahle, RHP Kenta Maeda, RHP Bailey Ober
Projected SP WAR: 9.9
Don’t take our word for it that the Twins could use another starter, and preferably one who throws from the left side. If they didn’t want one of those, they wouldn’t have been in pursuit of Carlos Rodón before he signed with the New York Yankees.
The Twins are a fringe contender in the American League at large, but they’re more legit within the confines of the AL Central. For their part, one can imagine the Red Sox being interested in one of three outfielders: Max Kepler, Trevor Larnach or Alex Kirilloff.