MLB Hot Stove Rumors: Nationals still after Chris Sale, others think price is too high
Yes, the Nationals still want Andrew McCutchen too
By
Mike Axisa
•
1 min read
Following an excellent regular season and another disappointing NLDS loss, the Nationals are big-game hunting this offseason.
In recent days, Washington has been connected to Andrew McCutchen, and according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, they remain engaged with the White Sox about Chris Sale as well. Other teams find the asking price prohibitive, however.
Sources: #Nationals remain in talks with #WhiteSox on Sale and #Pirates on McCutchen. #RedSox open on Sale, but only at lesser asking price.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 3, 2016
Sources add: #Astros, #Rangers out on Sale at current asks. #Dodgers more focused on free agents than trades. #Braves still in mix.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 3, 2016
First things first: The White Sox are absolutely right to set a high asking price for Sale. He's a bona fide top-of-the-rotation starter, a legitimate top-five pitcher in the game, and he's signed affordably for another three years. Cost-controlled impact pitching is the most valuable commodity in the game.
As for trading for McCutchen and Sale, it seems impossible. It'll take a ton of prospects. I think it's doable for the Nationals though. It just might require some creativity. Top prospect Victor Robles has been mentioned as a headliner in a McCutchen trade, and if they can package him with a pitcher like Reynaldo Lopez plus some secondary pieces, it would leave Lucas Giolito for a Sale trade.
Of course, it'll take a lot more than just Giolito to get Sale, but that's a nice starting point. Would the Nationals be open to trading someone like Joe Ross or Tanner Roark as well? That opens the door for a three-team blockbuster. For example:
- To Nationals: Chris Sale
- To third team: Roark or Ross
- To White Sox: Giolito and prospects from third team (and Nationals?)
I'm not saying it'll be easy for the Nationals to acquire both McCutchen and Sale, but I think it is possible. It is hard to see how they could swing both trades and not subtract substantially from their MLB roster, at which point it's fair to wonder how much of an upgrade they're ultimately making.
The current free-agent pitching market is very thin, so if the White Sox do make Sale available, they figure to receive a ton of interest. If teams shy away because they're scared of the asking price, well, that's their loss.
Sale is a balance-of-power player. He can change an entire division outlook by himself. Want to trade for him? Well, it's going to hurt.
