Red Sox Land Sale In Mega Deal

It took a parting with the consensus top prospect in baseball and a couple other high profile pieces, but the Boston Red Sox finally struck a deal with the Chicago White Sox to get All-Star starting pitcher Chris Sale to Beantown, Tuesday. 

The deal for Sale now solidifies Boston's attempt to go for it all this season and puts them atop the American League as one of the top powers in the league.

Getting Sale came at a somewhat steep price, however, as the perenial Cy Young candidate's three years of team control remaining caused Boston to part with a couple of key young prospects.

The top piece of the package heading to Chicago is unquestionably Cuban sensation Yoan Moncada, who was the consensus top minor leaguer this past season and even spent some time in the majors when roster expanded in September. Moncada, who is expected to develop into an elite Major League infielder in the near future, slashed .294/.407/.511 with 15 homers 62 RBI and 45 steals over two minor league levels last season.

The Boston will also send top pitching prospect Michael Kopech, who was the team's first round pick in 2014, to Chicago. Kopech has big swing and miss stuff and has put together a nice resume in the minors as he's posted a career 2.60 ERA in 135 professional innings. He also has serious heat and the potential to hit triple digits on the radar gun.

While Boston gave up two of their top five farmhands to land the lefty ace, they shouldn't have much regret. Over seven big leagues season, Sale has posted a 3.00 ERA and has been a consistent Cy Young Award finalist. He has also proven himself to be an innings eater, pitching at least 174 innings in each of the last five campaigns including topping out at 226.2 this past season.

The lefty will now join an already formidable rotation that features multi-time Cy Young Award winner David Price and reigning CyYoung winner Rick Porcello.

Even though Boston gave up Moncada, Kopech and two other prospects, including the team's eighth ranked prospect Luis Alexander Basabe and pitcher Victor Diaz, being able to add three years of a top flight starter like Sale to your team should make most Red Sox fans happy.

Now everybody, hide your scissors.