While the Los Angeles Dodgers were long presumed to be interested in acquiring a starting pitcher prior to the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline, it would come as a significant surprise if the club does not make a move to bolster their rotation.
Although Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu brought some reinforcement, it was short-lived. Ryu has since landed back on the disabled list, suffering from left elbow tendinitis. And Clayton Kershaw’s return is unknown after he had to shut down his recovery due to back pain resurfacing after a simulated game.
To this point, the Dodgers’ search for starting pitching has tied them to Chris Archer and others from the Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland’s Sonny Gray and Rich Hill, and Arizona’s Shelby Miller.
However, there now appears to be a new entrant on the trading block, with the Chicago White Sox reportedly open to a rebuild of sorts and fielding calls on left-handed ace Chris Sale.
According to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball, the Dodgers are expected to be among the teams to call the White Sox on Sale:
The Red Sox and Dodgers are among teams with the prospect stash and payroll who could make a serious run at Sale, and while it isn’t known for sure that the Dodgers are in, it is expected they, too, will make a call, at least, depending on the health of Clayton Kershaw, baseball’s best pitcher who’s out with a back ailment.
Assuming he is indeed available, Sale easily becomes the best pitcher on the market. That puts the White Sox in strong position to stage a bidding war between teams as they look to ensure their best return.
Reports thus far have the Texas Rangers aggressively pursuing the 27-year-old. Sale this season is 14-3 with a 3.18 ERA, 3.71 FIP and 1.01 WHIP, while leading the American League with 133 innings pitched.
Sale was scratched from Saturday’s start, though not because he was traded, but instead involved in a clubhouse incident.
