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Red Sox SP Chris Sale Open to Contract Extension with Boston: 'My Phone's On'
January 19, 2019
Heading into the final year of his contract, Chris Sale is open to signing an extension with the Boston Red Sox.
Per MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo, Sale noted he would listen if Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski wanted to talk about a long-term deal.
"My phone's on," Sale said. "Yeah. If they called, I'd answer."
The Red Sox announced on Oct. 30 they exercised Sale's 2019 option worth $15 million after he helped the franchise win 108 games and a World Series title last season.
Sale has been one of the best bargains in Major League Baseball since he made his debut for the Chicago White Sox in 2010. The 29-year-old has finished in the top six of American League Cy Young voting in each of the past seven years.
Boston will have a lot of key roster decisions to make after next season in addition to Sale's contract. Rick Porcello and Xander Bogaerts will be eligible for free agency. Mookie Betts, who just set a record by receiving $20 million in his second year of arbitration, will likely receive another raise next season before he hits free agency after 2020.
Sale would seem to have plenty of leverage in negotiating for a long-term deal. The southpaw posted a 2.11 ERA with 237 strikeouts in 158 innings last year.
Given the apparently limited market for even the biggest free agents this offseason—Manny Machado and Bryce Harper remain available—Sale could try to secure a deal early to avoid a potentially long wait next winter.
