NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- It began with an exchange late last week between Rick Hahn and Dave Dombrowski, a simple inquiry to gauge the Boston Red Sox general manager’s interest in superstar Chris Sale.
Four days later, the White Sox and Boston finalized Tuesday what potentially could be a franchise-altering swap for both teams. The White Sox shipped Sale, their homegrown, five-time All-Star pitcher, to the Red Sox in exchange for a four-player package that includes two elite prospects, second baseman Yoan Moncada and pitcher Michael Kopech. The move solidifies an already-outstanding Red Sox rotation that included two Cy Young winners and signifies the start of a potentially massive rebuild for the White Sox.