Boston Red Sox decided to act early in order to make sure their All-Star pitcher Chris Sale stays with the team for years to come. According to The Athletic, Red Sox and Sale agreed to a five-year, $145 million extension which will become official after a physical next week.
The 29-year-old had one year remaining on his old deal which pays him $15 million in 2019. The new contract will almost double his annual salary while keeping him in Boston through 2024.
Sale earned the new deal with another season in which he played some great baseball and helped Boston win a World Series while being fourth in the Cy Young Award vote. He finished the year with 12-4 alongside 2.11 ERA and 237 strikeouts.
Chris Sale was drafted 13th overall in 2010 MLB Draft by Chicago White Sox and made his majors debut in the same year. He played seven years in Chicago during which he earned five All-Star appearances and was AL strikeout leader in 2015.
In December of 2016, White Sox decided to trade Sale to the Red Sox in exchange for four players including Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech.
Sale’s MLB career stats include 103–62 record with 2.88 ERA and 1,781 strikeouts. He currently holds MLB record as fastest pitcher to record 1,500 strikeouts.
