On December 6th, the Boston Red Sox made one of the boldest trades in recent history by agreeing to send young star Yoan Moncada as well as prospects Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe, and Victor Diaz to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for five time All-Star left handed pitcher and Lakeland native Chris Sale.

Sale, who went 17-10 with a 3.34 ERA and led the AL with six complete games in 2016, is another high-profile addition to a Red Sox pitching staff who already have former American League Cy Young Award winners Rick Porcello who won in 2016 with the Sox and David Price who won the award in 2012 with the Tampa Bay Rays in tow. Prior to Boston acquiring Sale, many teams such as the Astros, Braves, Nationals, and others had shown interest and made legitimate attempts to trade for Sale but each did not offer a package to Chicago enticing enough for them to make a deal.

The main prize going to Chicago is 21 year old infielder/outfielder Yoan Moncada who Boston signed out of Cuba in 2015 and gave a record 31.5 million dollar signing bonus, who has drawn comparisons to Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano. Moncada will look to join a White Sox infield loaded with established stars like Todd Frazier and Jose Abreu and top prospect shortstop Tim Anderson who look to become the next White Sox championship team as they have not won a World Series since 2005.