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Report: Red Sox Extend Chris Sale Through 2024 Season

Chris Sale

The Boston Red Sox and Chris Sale reportedly agree to terms on a five-year extension worth around 150 million dollars, pending a physical which will not take place until next week. Ken Rosenthal then confirmed the deal will be for 145 million dollars.

Coming off a World Series win, Sale and the Red Sox both expressed interest in reaching a long-term agreement. With free agency looming at the end of the upcoming season, the Red Sox decided now would be the best time to keep their ace.

Sale turns thirty next week. He has been to seven consecutive All-Star games, and earned six consecutive top five finishes in the American League Cy Young voting.

Remaining Roster Question marks

This move makes bringing Craig Kimbrel back to the team a very unlikely possibility, as they currently carry 240.8 million dollars in annual values, with the 246 million threshold looming. Others reaching free agency at the end of the campaign are Xander Bogaerts and Rick Porcello, and with this deal, it is unlikely that either will receive long-term deals.

J.D. Martinez also has the option to opt out of his remaining three years after this season. After the 2020 campaign, the reigning AL MVP Mookie Betts is also up for free agency.

The World Series champs will need to do some wheeling and dealing to keep the squad together. This is especially true considering part of their bullpen is getting weaker, and division rival New York has acquired arguably the best bullpen in baseball.

Rest of League Extensions

As this extension is likely being finished, it would be the 17th contract extended this spring alone. It is also the sixth by a player in the last year of his contract, and the fifth greater than 100 million in guaranteed money.

Much of this reason may come from how players view the slow pace of free agency, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, for example. You can expect extensions like this are going to continue to be more likely.

Main Photo:

Chris Sale
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 11: Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Fenway Park on September 11, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts.(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

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