Red Sox pick up Sale's $15 million option

[October 31, 2018]    The Boston Red Sox picked up the $15 million option on left-hander Chris Sale's contract for the 2019 season.

Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale celebrates after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Sale will be entering the final year of a five-year deal he signed with the White Sox in 2013. He was traded to the Red Sox in 2017 and went on to finish second in the American League Cy Young voting with a 17-8 record and 2.90 ERA.

Sale went 12-4 with a 2.11 ERA in 2018, but only started 27 games as he dealt with injuries during the second half of the season. The Red Sox were cautious with their ace in preparation for the postseason, and Sale went on to pitch in seven games, including four starts, allowing seven earned runs over 15 1/3 innings.

The 29-year-old struck out the side in relief in the Red Sox's World Series clinching victory in Game 5 on Sunday night.

Sale can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2020 season. The seven-time All-Star has a career 103-62 record with a 2.89 ERA and 1,789 strikeouts over nine seasons.

--Field Level Media

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