The Washington Nationals apparently swung for the fences in their attempt to trade for Chris Sale.
The Boston Red Sox ultimately landed Sale on Tuesday, sending prospects Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe and Victor Diaz to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for the left-handed ace. The Nationals also pursued Sale, though, and their reported offer was very strong.
Barry Svrluga of The Washington Post reported that the Nationals were willing to trade the White Sox a package of prospects that included outfielder Victor Robles and starting pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez. This would have been a huge return, so the Red Sox, whose accepted offer was exceptional in its own right, should be thankful the White Sox opted for Boston’s package of farmhands.
Giolito, Robles and Lopez are the Nationals’ top three prospects, according to MLB.com. Giolito is the No. 3 prospect in Major League Baseball, while Robles and Lopez check in at No. 10 and No. 38, respectively.
Giolito and Lopez probably could have factored into Chicago’s big league rotation plans right away and would have given the White Sox two talented arms with a ton of upside. Robles is considered a five-tool player and an awesome athlete who has great contact skills and tremendous speed.
All told, the White Sox opted for the Red Sox’s package headlined by Moncada, who is the No. 1 prospect in baseball, and Kopech, a hard-throwing right-hander who ranks No. 30 on MLB.com’s list. Basabe and Diaz are no slouches, either.
Basically, the White Sox were positioned to cash in. And they did, although the Red Sox certainly are much happier about the result than the Nationals, who took a hearty cut and missed.
Thumbnail photo via Peter G. Aiken/USA TODAY Sports Images
