The Boston Red Sox on Tuesday exercised Chris Sale’s contract option for the 2019 Major League Baseball season.
The news comes as no surprise, with Sale posting another All-Star campaign for the World Series champion Red Sox in 2018. The left-hander is set to become a free agent next offseason.
Sale will earn $15 million in 2019, according to Baseball Prospectus, although his salary could increase to $16 million if he wins the 2018 American League Cy Young Award — something that’s possible given his production this season despite spending time on the disabled list.
Sale went 12-4 with a 2.11 ERA, an 0.86 WHIP and 237 strikeouts in 158 innings across 27 starts in 2018. He went 1-0 with a 4.11 ERA over 15 1/3 innings in five postseason appearances (three starts).
Sale, acquired from the Chicago White Sox before the 2017 season, has been named an All-Star in each of the last seven years. The 29-year-old is the only pitcher ever to start multiple All-Star Games as a member of the Red Sox.
