Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox agree on extension

Chris Sale and the Boston Red Sox are close on a contract extension, according to Alex Speier on Twitter. Sale, a lefthanded starting pitcher, would be a free agent after the 2019 season if he does not extend.

Sale extending with the Red Sox has been something talked about for some time, so this isn’t really a surprise. The Red Sox also have righthanded starter Rick Porcello slated to be a free agent after the season, and it was anticipated they wanted to avoid losing both of them at season’s end.

Sale, who turns 30 next week, has been one of the top pitchers in baseball since becoming a starter in 2012. He has never won a Cy Young Award, but has finished in the top 6 in the Cy Young voting every year from 2012 through 2018, and has been an All Star each year as well. He was acquired by the Red Sox in the 2016-17 offseason from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe and Victor Diaz.

UPDATE — Jeff Passan says Sale’s deal is expected to be “in the five-year, $150 million range.”

UPDATE II — Jeff Passan says a deal has been agreed to pending a physical.

UPDATE III — Ken Rosenthal says it is 5 years, $145 million.